Review Shieldon Knives Bazoucan

 -  made in a rush!

My first impressions of the Bazoucanfrom Shieldon Knives were not entirely positive. Unfortunately, that attitude has not changed over time. On the contrary, my prejudices against Pokémon knives have deepened. In the presentation of this knife, it was written that I hoped it would surprise me. It did not. It is exactly what it looks like, strange. Let me explain what is meant by that.

Shieldon Bazoucan

The Bazoucan is a knife from Shieldon's simplest segment, called "Bard". This means that the materials are found a notch lower on the ladder compared to the finer models. Specifically, this means D2 steel in the blade and G10 in the handle. However, advanced shaped G10 can be added, and the ball bearings from the more expensive cousins ​​remain, which is a plus.

Behind this, to me, somewhat strange creation is a designer with the nickname "Django". It is unclear what the person's real name is. Even more unclear is what the purpose of this knife was, apart from checking off yet another box in the line of Pokémons that I have by now understood have been given names to the knives. In my opinion, the design feels unfinished or, at worst, sloppy. As if someone wanted to finish the project before lunch.

The lines on this knife don't appeal to my eye.

Short version: Bazoucan, a project from Shieldon Knives that feels like it needed to be finished quickly and whose raison d'être is therefore unclear.

Blade

The Bazoucan has a somewhat strange shape on the blade that makes me think of the jaw of an Indian gharial. Especially if the tubercle at the front had been a little larger. In terms of shape, it is also diffuse. As the back slopes, it should be a Wharncliffe, but the very rounded tip brings to mind a Sheepsfoot. In any case, it gives an almost straight edge and a virtually non-existent tip. To get the most out of such an edge, certain conditions are required. However, they are not met here.

A blade with slightly odd dimensions which matches its slightly odd appearance

The length is just like everything else on this knife, odd. My calliper says 81 mm, which is uneven in inches too, which makes it all strange. The thickness is simpler with 3 mm, and the height is found between 24 and 18.8 mm.

The material is D2, which is not much to say about in this price range. A completely ok steel with that in mind, given that it has been hardened and heat-treated correctly, which is the impression I get here. The hardness is stated at 58-60 HRC, and there is no reason to doubt it, as the Bazoucan has kept its sharpness well. But the edge was not impressive from the beginning, on the other hand.

D2 is not completely stainless and is, therefore, a material I am not entirely fond of. But in this case, that problem has been avoided by providing the blade with some form of Ti-Ni coating.

A D2 steel blade with a TiNi finish

The blade has then been given a flat sabre grind to a height of 15 mm. Behind the edge, the Bazoucan measures 0.5-0.6 mm. A geometry that matches any fixed-blade survival knife. It's durable as hell, but it doesn't cut particularly well. That's what I meant by the missing conditions.

It can be added that the knife doesn't cut well, regardless of the material. Cardboard, for example, can of course be cut; it would be strange otherwise, it is a knife after all, but it is slow. The poor geometry offers unexpectedly high resistance, and the ergonomics are not good. Since the edge is steep and the factory edge was certainly fairly smooth but only semi-sharp, the Bazoucan doesn't cut paper and thinner materials well either.

It is largely devoid of a point, so that detail is not much to talk about. This is not a knife you would choose if you were going to puncture something. Nor is it a knife you would carve with, so what the blade is used for is a bit unclear. If you turn the knife upside down and cut towards you, it can be used to cut rope. But that's about it.

Handle

The entire knife measures an odd 202 mm. Of that, the handle accounts for 115 mm. The available surface for the hand is 96 mm, as the flipper tab steals space.

A handle in multi-colored G10

The construction is proven. A steel frame, which is 1.5 mm thick, and is modestly lightened with a few drill holes and open in the back. There you will find an hourglass-shaped spacer.

Here you can see the many layers of the G10 material and the open back.

The sides of the handle are made of G10, which in this case has been colored in something that they call "white, yellow, and black" on the website, but I don't know if I agree. Otherwise, the knife can be obtained in all-black if you prefer. Apart from the colour combination, the most striking thing about the hilts is that they are shaped. The sides are curved, and they have a pattern of ridges that extend along the surface. This is obviously where processing time and, therefore, money have been spent. As an extra decoration, the Bazoucan has also been given a collar around the adjustable pivot screw. The size of the screw is T8 and the other screws are T6.

A knife that feels in the hand like it looks, lumpy. But it's quite comfortable if you turn it upside down

In the hand, the Bazoucan feels like it looks, lumpy. That is, in a sabre grip, I don't like it at all. The thumb and index finger fall naturally into place, but then it gets worse as the underside curves outwards like on a swayback. But the worst thing is the sharp rear end of the handle, which, together with the slightly protruding clip, cuts into the hand in a sad way.

The knife is somewhat more comfortable in a hammer grip, as at least the back end of the clip ends up outside the hand, and you avoid that discomfort. However, the knife is most comfortable to hold in a reverse grip as the clip then ends up against the fingers instead, and the curved underside of the handle fills out the hand. Why a knife that is not a p'ikal is designed that way is beyond my understanding.

Then the "banana shape" of the knife, combined with an almost straight edge, makes it almost impossible to use the front part of the blade against a flat surface. It is barely possible to turn the wrist as much as required. 

Opening and Lock

Since the Bazoucan has a blade hole that is mostly for decoration, even if it fails like that, you have to rely on a flipper. And what a flipper! It's big and bold and a real "pocket pecker" as Nick Shabazz would have said in his prime.

Bazoucan has a large but quite effective flipper tab

Simply put, it is both too big and too pointed. However, the function is very good. The reason I wrote that the blade hole is mostly for decoration is that there is very little of it visible. When the thumb is put into what remains and begins the opening movement, it immediately stops against the part of the handle that constitutes the finger guard. It is a sloppy design. Has anyone tested opening the prototype?

The blade hole is mostly for looks; the function is substandard

The large lever and ball bearings inherited from the slightly finer models give the blade a fairly good push. The flipper can also be both pressed down and pulled back, depending on preference. The function is therefore very good.

The lock is really well-made.

In addition, it can be added that the knife has a solid lock. It works one hundred per cent and locks solidly without any play. This is, although Liner locks are sometimes not considered the strongest. Here, however, it is well done.

It is also relatively easy to release. So overall, an excellent lock. 

To Carry

In the pocket, the Bazoucan could have been at least in the middle of the class if it weren't for a couple of details. The length is, as I said, eleven and a half centimetres, which is not extreme in any direction, although it is not a small knife. But then there was the thickness. This knife is, thanks to the shaped sides, almost 15 mm thick, which is quite a lot. 

A fairly generic clip that can't be replaced

Even worse, however, is the height, which, thanks to the hefty flipper, amounts to almost four centimetres. The weight is not too bad, as the scales stop at 116 g.

The clip is of the deep carry type, which unfortunately also makes it feel against the hand when the knife is used.

The Bazoucan has a simple steel clip that is not removable. It is attached with two screws of size T6. The tension gets approved, and despitea very small ramp and being stingy with space under the clip itself, it works relatively well. It is of the "deep carry" type, which is what makes it when it comes to ergonomics, but makes the knife almost invisible when it is in a trouser pocket.

For some reason that I, like much else about this knife, don't understand, it comes with a large and unwieldy sheath made of flimsy nylon. It doesn't fit the knife very well and is obviously not made for this model specifically. But of course, if someone would rather carry their knife that way, there is at least one.

To Conclude

The Bazoucan is a knife I can't figure out. That was true at first glance, and I'm still scratching my head trying to understand. For example, why are basically all the lines on this knife broken? Look at the knife in profile, and you'll understand what I mean. The only thing that makes sense is that the front of the blade spine and the front of the handle slope at about the same angle. Then all harmony ends.

A knife with a slightly diffused look to it, it blends into the background somehow

I don't know what to think of the blade shape. Or well, I know, the proportions are ugly with a sloping back that almost goes up to the tip, which in turn is so rounded that it is non-existent. The blade type must be a "Wharn-Foot" as it is a mishmash of a little bit of everything. Especially since Django provided the blade with a hole that is not good for anything except collecting debris.

According to the advertising text, the shape was chosen because it gives a "/../ strong and sturdy build /../" and gives "/../incredible performance/../". I will leave it to them. I argue that if you want a blade with this shape, it must be really thin behind the edge with a geometry that really cuts well. These are characteristics that are not found here!

In addition, the flipper is an abomination. Django or possibly Shieldon Knives seems to have missed the memo that said we left 2010 and that the knife industry has now moved on to more discreet flipper functions, whether they are found at the front or on the back of the handle. This one is not nice to the eye, even worse to the finger and terrible in the pocket. But in its defense it can be said that it works well to get the blade out. It would be strange otherwise with that lever.

Once out, you have a fairly blunt edge to work with, but no point, as said. Already a handicap. Then there was the ergonomics. According to Shieldon themselves, they say that G10 is what gives "/../ a comfortable grip/../". I think they missed that it is the design that determines it and not the material itself. In this case, it is not good. That is enough, more comments are not needed. 

Shieldon Bazoucan was never a personal favourite. Maybe you appreciate it more?

As you can see, the Bazoucan is not one of my favourites at this point. I think it's ugly, and I don't mean in a charming way, which can sometimes be the case, but just unattractive. Then there are several details that I don't appreciate, the worst of which is the poor blade geometry, closely followed by the large flipper and an uncomfortable handle. Or at least a grip that really doesn't suit my hands.

But if you ignore my personal preferences, the Bazoucan is a well-built knife with fully acceptable handling and a solid lock. The materials are also passable, and the price is not a deterrent, so if you have a fablesse for Pokémon and don't have a Bazoucan in your collection, you can go for it.

Shieldon Knives

Specifications:

Length Overall: 202 mm

Length Folded: 115 mm

Weight:116 g

Blade Length: 81 mm

Blade Thickness: 3 mm

Blade Steel: D2

Handle: G10

Lock: Liner lock

Produced by: Shieldon Knives, made in China

/ J - not convinced

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

Recension Shieldon Knives Bazoucan

-  ett hastverk!

De första intrycken av Bazoucan från Shieldon Knives var inte helt positiva. Dessvärre har den inställningen inte ändrats över tid. Tvärtom har mina fördomar mot Pokémonknivar fördjupats. I presententationen av den här kniven skrevs att jag hoppades att den skulle överraska mig. Det gjorde den inte. Den är precis som den ser ut, märklig. Låt mig förklara vad som avses med det. 

Shieldon Bazoucan

Bazoucan är en kniv från Shieldons enklaste segment kallat "Bard". Det innebär att materialen hittas ett snäpp ned på stegen jämfört med de finare modellerna. Konkret innebär det D2-stål i bladet samt G10 i handtaget. Avancerat formad G10 kan dock tilläggas och kullagren från de dyrare kusinerna kvarstår vilket är ett plus. 

Bakom den här för mig något märkliga skapelsen står en formgivare med smeknamnet "Django". Oklart vad vederbörande heter egentligen. Ännu mer oklart vad som var syftet med den här kniven är förutom att kryssa ytterligare en ruta i raden av Pokémons som jag vid det här laget förstått fått ge namn åt knivarna. Designen känns nämligen i mitt tycke ofärdig eller i värsta fall slarvig. Som om någon velat avsluta projektet innan lunch. 

Linjerna på den här kniven tilltalar inte mitt öga

Kortversion: Bazoucan, ett projekt från Shieldon Knives som känns som det behövde avslutas fort och vars existensberättigande därför är oklart.

Blad

Bazoucan har en något märklig form på bladet som får mig att tänka på käften på en indisk gavial. Särskilt om knölen längst fram varit aningen större. Rent formmässigt är den också diffus. Då ryggen sluttar borde det vara en Wharncliffe men den väldigt rundade spetsen för tankarna till en Sheepsfoot. I vilket fall  som helst ger det en nästan rak egg och i stort obefintlig spets. För att få ut det mesta av en sådan egg krävs vissa förutsättningar. De är dock inte uppfyllda här. 

Ett blad med något udda mått vilket matchar dess något udda utseende

Längden är precis som allt annat på den här kniven udda. Mitt skjutmått säger 81 mm vilket blir ojämnt i tum också vilket gör det hela märkligt. Tjockleken är enklare med 3 mm och höjden återfinns mellan 24 och 18,8 mm. 

Materialet är D2 vilket inte är mycket att orda om i den här prisklassen. Ett helt ok stål med det i åtanke givet att det härdats och värmebehandlats korrekt vilket är intrycket jag får här. Hårdhetsgrad är angiven till 58-60 HRC och det finn ingen anledning att betvivla det då Bazoucan har hållt skärpan dugligt. Men så var eggen inte imponerande från början å andra sidan. 

D2 är inte helt rostfritt och ett material jag därför inte är helt förtjust i. Men i det här fallet har man undvikt den problematiken genom att förse bladet med någon form av Ti-Ni-beläggning. 

Ett blad i D2-stål med en TiNi-finish

Bladet har sedan fått en flat sabelslipning till en höjd av 15 mm. Bakom eggen mäter Bazoucan 0,5-0,6 mm. En geometri som matchar vilken fastbladad överlevnadskniv som helst. Hållbart så förbaskat men skär särskilt bra gör den inte. Det var det jag avsåg med förutsättningar som saknas.

Att kniven inte skär bra gäller oavsett material kan tilläggas. Kartong till exempel går förstås att skära, konstigt vore annars, det är trots allt en kniv men det går trögt. Den tvära geometrin bjuder på oväntat stort motstånd och ergonomin är inte god. Eftersom eggen är tvär och fabrikseggen förvisso var hyfsat jämn men endast halvskarp så skär inte Bazoucan bra i papper och tunnare material heller. 

Spets saknar den i stort sett så den detaljen är inte mycket att orda om. Det här är inte en kniv du väljer om du skall punktera något. Inte heller är det en kniv som man täljer med så vad bladet skall användas till är lite oklart. Vänder du kniven upp- och ned och skär emot dig så kan den duga till att skära av rep med. Men det är väl allt. 

Handtag

Hela kniven mäter udda 202 mm i strumplästen. Av det står handtaget för 115 mm. Tillgänglig yta för handen skrivs till 96 mm då flipperfenan stjäl utrymme. 

Ett handtag i flerfärgad G10

Konstruktionen är beprövad. En stålram, som är 1,5 mm tjock, som är blygsamt lättad med några borrhål samt öppen i ryggen. Där hittas en timglasformad distans. 

Här syns de många lagren i G10-materialet samt den öppna ryggen

I handtagssidorna hittas G10 som i det här fallet färgats i något som de på hemsidan kallas "white, yellow, and black" men det vete tusan om jag håller med om. Annars kan kniven fås i helsvart om du föredrar det. Förutom färgkombinationen är det mest slående med skollorna att de är formade. Dels är sidorna välvda och dels har de ett mönster av åsar som sträcker sig längs ytan. Det är uppenbarligen här bearbetningstid och därmed pengar lagts. Som extra dekoration har Bazoucan även fått en krage kring den justerbara pivotskruven. Storlek på skruven är T8 och för övriga skruvar gäller T6. 

En kniv som känns i handen som den ser ut, knölig. Men den är rätt bekväm om den vänds upp- och ned

I hand känns Bazoucan som den ser ut, knölig. Det vill säga i sabelgrepp gillar jag den inte alls. Tumme och pekfinger faller naturligt på plats men sedan blir det sämre då undersidan buktar utåt som på en swayback. Men sämst är den vassa bakänden på handtaget som tillsammans  med det lätt utstickande clipet skär in i handen på ett trist vis. 

Något bekvämare blir kniven i ett hammargrepp då åtminstone bakänden på clipet hamnar utanför handen och man slipper det obehaget. Bekvämast är dock kniven att hålla i omvänt grepp eftersom clipet då hamnar mot fingrarna istället och den kurviga undersidan på handtaget fyller ut handen. Varför man designar en kniv som inte är en pikal på det viset övergår mitt förstånd. 

Sedan gör "bananformen" på kniven kombinerat med en nästan rak egg att det nästan är omöjligt att använda främre delen av bladet mot en platt yta. Det går nämligen knappt att vrida handleden så mycket som krävs. 

Öppning och lås

Eftersom Bazoucan fått ett bladhål som mest är till för dekoration även om det misslyckas som det också så får man förlita sig på en flipperfena. Och vilken flipperfena sedan! Den är stor och djärv och en riktig "pocket pecker" som Nick Shabazz skulle ha sagt på den tiden han höll på som värst. 

Bazoucan har en stor men rätt effektiv flipperfena

Enkelt uttryckt så är den både för stor och för spetsig. Funktionen är emellertid mycket god. Anledningen till att jag skrev att bladhålet mest är till för dekoration kommer sig av att det är mycket lite av det som syns. När så tummen stoppas in i det som återstår och påbörjar öppningsrörelsen så tar det strax stopp mot den del av handtaget som utgör fingerskydd. Det är slarvig formgivning. Har ingen provöppnat prototypen?

Bladhålet är mest för syns skull, funktionen är undermålig

Den stora hävstången och kullagren ärvt från de lite finare modellerna ger tämligen god skjuts åt bladet. Flipperfenan kan dessutom både pressas nedåt samt dras bakåt, allt efter preferens. Funktionen är därmed mycket god.

Låset är riktigt bra utfört

Förtuom det kan tilläggas att kniven har ett solitt lås. Det fungerar till hundra procent och låser stabilt utan glapp eller spel. Det trots att Liner locks ibland inte betraktas som de starkaste. Här är det dock välgjort. 

Det är även relativt enkelt att släppa. Så totalt sett ett utmärkt lås. 

Att bära

I fickan skulle Bazoucan kunnat vara åtminstone i mitten av klassen om det inte vore för ett par detaljer. Längden är som sagt elva och en halv centimter vilket inte är extremt åt något håll även om det inte är lite. Men så var det tjockleken. Den här kniven är tack vare de formade skollorna nästan 15 mm tjock vilket är rätt mycket. 

Ett tämligen generiskt clip som sitter där det sitter

Ännu värre är dock höjden som tack vare den rejäla flipperfenan uppgår till nästan fyra centimeter. Vikten är inte alltför illa då vågen stannar på 116 g. 

Clipet är av deep carry-typ vilket tyvärr även gör att det känns mot handen när kniven används

Bazoucan har ett enkelt stålclip som inte är flyttbart. Det är fäst med två stycken skruvar i storlek T6. Spänsten får godkänt och trots mycket liten ramp och snålt med utrymme under själva clipet fungerar det relativt bra. Det är av "deep carry"-typ vilket är det som ställer till det när kommer till ergonomi men gör att kniven är närmast osynlig när den befinner sig i en byxficka. 

Av någon anledning som jag liksom mycket annat på den här kniven inte förstår så följer det med ett stort och otympligt fodral gjort i sladdrig nylon. Det passar inte kniven särskilt väl och är uppenbarligen inte gjort för den här modellen specifikt. Men visst, vill någon hellre bära sin kniv på det viset så finns det i alla fall ett sådant. 

Sammanfattningsvis

Bazoucan är en kniv jag inte blir klok på. Det gällde vid första anblick och jag kliar mig fortfarande i huvudet och försöker förstå. Till exempel varför i princip alla linjer på den här kniven är brutna. Titta på kniven i profil så förstår ni vad jag menar. Det enda som är logiskt är att främre delen av bladryggen liksom främre delen av handtaget sluttar i ungefär samma vinkel. Sedan slutar all harmoni. 

En kniv med ett något diffust över sig, den smälter in i bakgrunden på något vis

Bladformen vet jag inte vad jag skall tycka om. Eller jo det vet jag, proportionerna är fula med en sluttande rygg som nästan går upp mot spetsen som i sin tur är så rundad att den är icke-befintlig. Bladtypen får väl bli en "Wharn-Foot" då den är ett mischmasch av lite av varje. Särskilt som Django försett bladet med ett hål som inte är bra för något förutom att samla skräp. 

Enligt reklamtexten är formen vald för att den skänker en "/../ strong and sturdy build /../" samt ger "/../incredible performance/../". Det får stå för dem. Jag hävdar att skall man ha ett blad med den här formen måste det vara riktigt tunt bakom eggen med en geometri som verkligen skär väl. Det är egenskaper som inte hittas här!

Därtill är flipperfenan en styggelse. Django eller möjligen Shieldon Knives verkar ha missat memot som sade att vi lämnat 2010 och att knivbranchen numera övergått till mer diskreta flipperfunktioner vare sig de återfinns i framänden eller på ryggen av handtaget. Den här är inte snäll mot ögat, ännu elakare mot fingret och hemsk i fickan. Men till dess försvar kan sägas att den fungerar väl för att få fram bladet. Konstigt vore annat med den hävstången. 

Väl ute har du rätt mycket trubbig egg att arbeta med men ingen spets som sagt. Redan det ett handikapp. Sedan var det ergonomin. Enligt Shieldon själva säger de att G10 är det som ger "/../ a comfortable grip/../". Jag tror att de missat att det är formgivningen som avgör det och inte materialet i sig. I det här fallet är den inte bra. Det räcker så, flera kommentarer behövs inte. 

Shieldon Bazoucan blev aldrig någon personlig favorit, kanske du uppskattar den mer?

Bazoucan tillhör som ni förstått vid det här laget ingen av mina favoriter. Jag tycker att den är ful och då menar jag inte på ett charmigt vis vilket ibland kan vara fallet, utan bara oattraktiv. Sedan finns det flera detaljer som jag inte uppskattar varav den usla bladgeometrin är den främsta tätt följd av den stora flipperfenan och ett obekvämt handtag. Eller åtminstone ett grepp som verkligen inte passar mina händer.

Men bortser man från mina personliga preferenser så är Bazoucan en välbyggd kniv med fullt godkänt handhavande och ett solitt lås. Materialen är även de gångbara och priset inte avskräckande så har du en fablesse för Pokémons och saknar en Bazoucan i samlingen så kan du slå till. 

Shieldon Knives

Specifikation:

Längd utfälld: 202 mm

Längd hopfälld: 115 mm

Vikt:116 g

Bladlängd: 81 mm

Godstjocklek: 3 mm

Bladstål: D2

Handtag: G10

Lås: Liner lock

Producerad av: Shieldon Knives, tillverkad i Kina

/ J - inte övertygad

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

Inked

- A new kind of knife!

It was about time! I have been thinking about the idea from time to time, and considering how much time I have spent on this activity in recent years, I am hooked. So a small tribute to the interest was not far off. But then, ideas must be converted into practice as well. In this case, as often, I must attribute the catalytic effect to my dear wife.

She had seen an offer for a free consultation at Tello.Ink - Växjö. I was really just following along as support. Her motif was going to be a family tattoo, featuring a rose and everyone's initials. That was an idea she had had for a long time. 

After a first conversation with one of the partners, we got a very good impression of the studio. Especially from the way they work with a rotating group of tattoo artists from Europe and, as it turns out, South America! This means that they can offer basically anything in terms of motifs, including fine line and realism, for example.

In the back of my mind, I had my little idea for a throwing knife, so I presented it, and it was received with enthusiasm. After a while of talking about it all, it turned out that we could come the next day. The artists drew the proposals on Friday evening, and we arrived on Saturday at lunchtime to decide on the alternatives. In my case, the process was simple, as it had to be as imaginative as possible, but a little more artistically complicated in C's case.

The result was very good! My worn copies now look a little shinier than when they were new!

After a little preparation, it was time to get started. Unfortunately, I couldn't talk much with the very nice tattoo artist while the work was going on, as my Spanish is almost non-existent and he is from Colombia.

It turned out that Olger Pabuena was not just anyone, but a multiple award winner back home in South America, despite his relatively young age. It is extra impressive since this art form is big there. Feel free to visit his Instagram account and follow him if you are interested. In addition to his talent in this area, he was also a musician and, if I understood correctly, a music teacher. A gentleman with many talents. 

The technique used was new to me, which doesn't say much, but it included silver paint, which gives a much more realistic result than just black and white. The size is slightly reduced, about 2/3 of the original as it wouldn't have fit otherwise. I'm not THAT big.

It couldn't be that much bigger. Now it just needs to heal.

Why this particular motif and this knife? Well, it's my favourite model for competition, and it was with it that I won my first World Championship medals this summer, a silver and a gold. For me, it's quite big. That's why it's a Pathfinder from Throwingzone that's depicted. I also think the name is quite fitting.

The tattoo itself took about two to two and a half hours or something like that. I'm very happy with the end result! Now it just needs to heal properly so you can really see how it turned out.

/ J - newly inked

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

New Knives - Lanceur de l'âme CR04

That I am something of a Francophile when it comes to throwing knives is perhaps starting to become clear at this point. I have a weakness for small French enthusiast brands and now have knives from brands such as Throwingzone, Zitoon Knives, Pierre Cazoulat and not least Lanceur de l'âme. Behind that name hides a knife thrower, and also knife maker, and a blacksmith named Maxime Blanchet.

This model, called CR04, is one of the simplest in the range. But that was actually what attracted me. The lines are clean, and the dimensions and weight were exactly where they should be. In addition, there were a few details that were already in the picture that revealed to me that I will probably like them.

Lanceur de l'âme CR04

One such detail is the design of the tip in relation to the handle. When a knife looks like this, it gives a grip that feels more equivalent when the knife is thrown from the handle and the blade. In comparison, another model from Lanceur de l'âme, Dague du competition, can be put. They are, in turn, knives made to maximise results in competition from precision distances of three, five and seven meters. This means that having a wider blade is an advantage, as it increases the chances of higher scores. However, it also means that the handle is narrower in relation; in this case, the ratio is three to four centimetres, respectively.

With the CR04, it looks a little different as the handle is 26 mm wide and the grippable part of the tip is 38 mm, where my index finger ends up, but the part in front of it is much narrower. This provides good conditions for a rotational knife. Especially as it is neutrally balanced. In fact, the weight is slightly closer to the handle than usual. Much depends on it being quite short.

A little coffee before I try to test the knives despite the winter darkness and drizzle.

The total length of the knife is 32 cm, and the thickness is just under 6 mm, which gives a total weight per knife of 375 grams. Excellent proportions for a knife for Walk Back. It is possibly a bit too light to be completely optimal for long-distance throwing, but otherwise damn good.

In addition, there are several details that enhance the general impression. One is how well-rounded all the edges are, and another is the bevels. But above all, it is noticeable in how softly rounded the transitions between blade and handle are, approximately where the heel of a chef's knife would be.

The steel is, as is often the case with knives from France, Swedish, and here we find Hardox 450. It has proven to be an excellent steel for throwing knives. Tough, impact-resistant and easy to sharpen if misfortune strikes and a tip needs to be reprofiled.

I am really looking forward to inaugurating them properly, but for that, we need slightly better weather. 

/ J - eager to throw

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Gaddad!

- en ny sorts kniv!

Det var på tiden! Jag har tänkt tanken från stund till annan och med tanke på hur mycket tid jag lagt ned på den här aktiviteten de senare åren så råder det ingen tvekan om att jag är biten. Så en liten tribut till intresset låg inte långt borta. Men sedan skall idéer omvandlas till praktik också. I det här fallet får jag tillskriva katalysatoreffekten till min kära fru.  

Hon hade nämligen sett ett erbjudande om gratis konsultation hos Tello.Ink - Växjö. Jag följde egentligen bara med som bollplank. Hennes motiv skulle bli någon form av familjetatuering inkluderande en ros och allas initialer. Det var en idé som hon haft under en längre tid. 

Efter ett inledande samtal med en av delägarna fick vi ett mycket gott intryck av studion. Särskilt av sättet de arbetar med ett roterande grupp tatuerare från bland europa och skulle det visa sig, sydamerika! Det gör att de kan erbjuda i princip vad som helst i motivväg inkluderande fine line och realism till exempel. 

I bakhuvudet hade jag min lilla idé om en kastkniv så den lade jag fram och den emottogs med entusiasm. Efter en stunds samtal kring det hela visade det sig att det  fanns tid redan dagen efter. Konstnärerna ritade förslagen på fredagkvällen och vi anlände lördag vid lunchtid för att ta ställning till alternativen. I mitt fall var det enkelt då den skulle vara så föreställande som möjligt men lite mer konstnärligt komplicerad i Cs fall. 

Resultatet blev mycket bra! Sedan ser mina slitna exemplar lite blankare ut än när de är nya så den kommer matcha mitt nya set ännu bättre!

Efter lite förberedelser var det dags att sätta igång. Tyvärr kunde jag inte tala så mycket med den mycket sympatiska tatueraren under tiden arbetet pågick då min spanska är närmast icke existerande och han är från Colombia. 

Det visade sig att Olger Pabuena inte var vem som helst utan mångdubbelt prisbelönad hemma i sydamerika trots sin relativt ringa ålder. Det är extra imponerande då den här konstformen är stor där. Besök gärna hans Instagramkonto och följ honom om ni är intresserade. Utöver sin talang inom detta område är han även musiker och jag förstod det rätt, musiklärare. En herre med många strängar på sin lyra eller möjligen bas i det här fallet. 

Tekniken som användes var ny för mig, vilket inte säger så mycket men den inkluderade silverfärg vilket ger ett mycket mer realistiskt resultat än enbart svart-vitt. Storleken är något förminskad, ca 2/3 av originalet då den inte skulle fått plats annars. Så jäkla stor är jag inte.

Så mycket större kunde den inte vara. Nu skall den bara läka ut

Varför just det här motivet och den här kniven kanske ni undrar. Jo, det är min favoritmodell för tävling och det var med den jag tog mitt livs första VM-medaljer i somras, ett silver och ett guld. För mig är det rätt stort. Därför är det en Pathfinder från Throwingzone som avbildats. Namnet är dessutom rätt välpassande tycker jag. 

Själva tatueringen tog kring två till två och en halv timme att slutföra. Slutresultatet blev jag mycket nöjd med! Nu skall den bara läka ut ordentligt så man verkligen kan se hur den blev. 

/ J - nygaddad

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre #telloink.vaxjo

Nya knivar - Lanceur de l'âme CR04

Att jag är något av en frankofil när det kommer till kastknivar kanske framgår vid det här laget. Jag har en faiblesse för små franska entusiastmärken och har nu knivar från märken som Throwingzone, Zitoon Knives, Pierre Cazoulat och inte minst Lanceur de l'âme. Bakom det namnet döljer sig en knivkastare och tillika knivmakare och smed vid namn Maxime Blanchet. 

Den här modellen kallad CR04 tillhör de enklaste i sortimentet. Men det var faktiskt det som lockade mig. Linjerna är rena och måtten samt vikt var precis där de skall. Dessutom var det några detaljer som redan på bild avslöjar för mig att jag troligen kommer att gilla dem.

Lanceur de l'âme CR04

En sådan detalj är utformningen av spetsen i relation till handtaget. När en kniv ser ut så här ger det nämligen ett grepp som känns mer likvärdigt när kniven kastas från handtaget respektive bladet. I jämförelse kan ställas en annan modell från Lanceur de l'âme, Dague du competition. De är i sin tur knivar gjorda för att maximera resultat i tävling från precisionsdistanserna tre, fem och sju meter. Det innebär att det är en fördel med ett så brett blad som möjligt för att öka möjligheterna till högre poäng. Men det gör också att handtaget är smalare i relation, i det här fallet är förhållandet tre respektive fyra centimeter.

Med CR04 ser det lite annorlunda ut då handtaget är 26 mm brett och den greppbara delen av spetsen är 38 mm där mitt pekfinger hamnar men vägen dit är mycket smalare. Det ger goda förutsättningar för en rotationskniv. Särskilt som den är neutralt balancerad. Faktum är att tyngen ligger något närmare handtaget än vanligt. Mycket beroende på att det är rätt kort. 

En liten kaffe innan jag gör ett försök att testa knivarna trots vintermörkret och duggregnet

Totallängden på kniven är 32 cm och tjockleken är strax under 6 mm vilket ger en totalvikt per kniv på 375 gram. Utmärkta proportioner för en kniv för Walk Back. Möjligen är den något för lätt för att vara helt optimal för långdistanskastning men annars förbaskat bra. 

Därutöver finns flera detaljer som höjer det generella intrycket. Ett är hur väl rundade alla kanter är, ett annat är de fint slipade eggarna. Men framförallt märks det på hur mjukt rundade övergångarna mellan blad och handtag är ungefär där hälen på en kockkniv skulle befunnit sig. 

Stålet är som ofta med knivar från Frankrike svenskt och här hittar vi Hardox 450. Ett utmärkt stål för kastknivar har det visat sig. Segt, slagtåligt och lättslipat om oturen är framme och en spets behöver reprofileras.

Jag ser verkligen fram emot att inviga dem ordenligt men för det krävs aningen bättre väder.  

/ J - kastsugen

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

New Knife - FKW - Fort Knife Works Cross

There aren't many of them on the market, high-quality stilettos made of decent materials. At least not any that don't cost a fortune. However, if you look among custom manufacturers, there are, of course, many available. But for us mere mortals, it is harder to find alternatives. But here is one of them called Cross from FKW - Fort Knife Works.

FKW Cross

Whether it is a limited edition or not, I will leave it unsaid, but they are numbered, and this happens to be 1030/1200.

The material in the handle sides is aluminium, and the knife can be obtained with or without bolsters. Cross has a total weight of 132 g. Quite a lot for such a slim knife, but the frame is sturdy and made of steel. On the back, there is a clip that cannot be moved, and which is unusual; it is a top-mounted deep ride clip. This is probably mostly due to the handle shape. However, it does have the advantage that the ergonomics are good.

A stiletto with a blade in M390 is not common.

On the other side, you will find a slide safety and the cross-shaped activation button that gave the knife its name. The blade is driven by a coil spring and is medium-fast. Not one of the fastest, but in return, there is absolutely no play in the blade. The lock is given by the construction, a button/plunge lock.

The blade is also just over nine centimetres long, 91 mm and made of steel as fine as M390. The total length of the knife is 21.5 cm.

Overall, a nice and very well-built knife for under a hundred Euros.

/ J - like stilettos

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Review Karesuandokniven Bäver 10

  

- the companion

This is the larger of two rodents found in the Swedish Karesuandoknivens catalogue, and the model is called, as the title suggests, Bäver/Beaver 10. If you want an even more agile and, above all, smaller knife, there is also a Bäver 8. The numbers have a certain bearing, I can reveal. However, regardless of which knife you choose, you will receive a high-quality product made in Sweden.

Karesuandokniven Bäver 10

Karesuando knives marketed themselves for a while as being the world's northernmost knife manufacturer. Unfortunately, I had to shatter that illusion at one point, when I discovered another one located thirty miles due north. But Karesuando is still damn far north in the world for most people, and now they have reclaimed the throne as the manufacturer I had in mind has now moved production to more southern regions.

The reason I mention geography is that it permeates the entire manufacturing and the company.

Knives, axes and other products from Karesuandokniven stand with at least one foot firmly placed in the traditional, but the other hovers a little above the modern without being trampled down yet. Most materials are sourced from the local area, with birch, reindeer antler, leather and Swedish-made steel. But modern elements have also crept in, such as stainless steel axes and folding knives with carbon fibre frames.

Today's review item, however, does not contain any particular surprises in terms of materials. The question is rather how well they have been used.

Bäver is a traditional hunting and outdoor knife with that little something extra.

Short version: Karesuandokniven Bäver 10, a rodent with a superb bite, nice fur and which is pleasant to hold. A pet for life

Blade

The addition to the name Bäver reveals one thing about this knife, namely the length of the blade. Accordingly, it measures 100 mm. Of that, the edge extends over 95 mm. That is, as with most Scandinavian knives, you can cut close to the handle, which is a feature I appreciate, as that is where you have the most power and control. I am not a fan of the American invention of providing knife blades with "forward choils" as they are mostly in the way when not in use.

The blade is a very slight drop-point bordering on a straight blade. The grind is not unsurprisingly a "Scandi grind"

The steel used in this specific edition is the highly regarded 12C27. If a more exclusive steel is desired, the knife is also available in Damasteel's "Dense Twist" pattern.

There is quite a lot to say about 12C27. Among other things, it is perhaps a bit too simple to find on a knife in this price range, and it is somewhat dated at this point. After all, it is a steel that has been used by Morakniv for many years. But it is also extremely tried and tested, which means that the knowledge of how to harden, heat treat, and best sharpen the steel is also well established. In this way, it is easy to get the most out of the material.

This is noticeable in this case as the blade has held its sharpness very well. During the year I have used the knife, I have not had to resharpen it, but have maintained it with a strop and sharpening rod as I usually do, and it has worked well. It should be added that I have not cut too heavily or roughly with the knife. In plain language, this means no dirty anchor ropes with sand in them or rubber tyres or the like. For those types of tasks, I use other knives. Read "that I care less about".

Then both the material and the finish help to keep corrosion at bay. 12C27 is a stainless steel, and the surface has been given a mirror polish. This means that rust does not take hold even in very humid weather.

The steel is a polished 12C27

The Bävern 10 is a distinct hunting and outdoor knife, and as such it is mainly natural materials with some elements of, for example, nylon rope, tape, thinner plastic and cardboard that are cut. At least that applies to me.

But as I said, wood, both fresh and dry, and meat are what are most relevant given the knife's design. Now I am not a hunter, so no deer have been skinned, and not even a small pike has been filleted, as I am hardly a frequent fisherman either. I take care of the practical parts related to meat handling in the kitchen as I am interested in cooking and also work as a chef. So I have handled fish and also poultry, pork and beef. The knife has also been taken to work so that I would have more user time as background for the review. 

The knife cuts food well as long as you don't get the idea of ​​chopping too many carrots and the like, of course. This type of grind is not particularly good for this. That's just the nature of things. The beaver has a typical "Scandi grind" as it is called nowadays, even though this one has a small micro-edge. The factory edge was otherwise very good - sharp, even and symmetrical.

What happens in this type of material, for example, root vegetables, is that the blade tends to act as a wedge and wants to crack what is being cut. Compared to a kitchen knife, blades made for hunting and especially outdoor activities are thicker to withstand more abuse. In this case, 3.2 mm, which is also well chosen for the purpose.

By that I mean that it is thin enough to cut well in different types of meat and durable enough to handle other things that are relevant, such as mainly wood in different shapes. In that area, this knife excels. The comfortable handle paired with a blade with a good bite gives you pleasure at work. This is a knife you can work with for a long time. The ergonomics are very good.

Then this edge angle bites excellently into wood, so everything from cutting sticks to lighting fires to carving goes well with the Bäver 10. Everything else, on the other hand, had disappointed me.

Handle

Given that the Bävern 10 is actually a slightly larger knife than one might be led to believe from the pictures, the handle is quite spacious. The total length is 11 cm, and of that, 10 cm is available for the fingers. This means that most hands can fit regardless of size. The same applies if you are wearing a thinner glove. The handle is full without being excessively thick. It measures between 25 mm at its widest at the back to 19 mm at its narrowest. It also has a bulge in the middle, although it only measures a few millimetres, so that detail is more of a cosmetic nature than practical. The height varies between 25 and 30 mm.

The materials used are traditional, with a brass finger guard followed by a reindeer antler insert as decoration, and then most of the handle is made of dark-stained birch. The finish is excellent with fine transitions between the materials and a polished surface. 

The handle is mainly made of birch with elements of reindeer antler and a brass finger guard.

It is noticeable that these are proven shapes as the handle literally melts into the hand. At least that is the case for me. This applies regardless of how the knife is gripped. All the most common ways of holding a knife work. Both the hammer grip and sabre grip with a thumb on the handle back/blade base feel comfortable. The same applies if an index finger is placed on the blade's back for precision cuts. Turning the knife to carve towards you feels just as smooth. Much thanks to the fact that the handle is certainly shaped but still in a fairly modest way. 

The handle is slightly widened in the middle and widens at the back

Gripping the knife in a pinch with a thumb on the flat side for really small detail work is also possible, as the handle is not excessively thick at the front.

Bävern 10 bjuder på ett mycket ergonomiskt handtag som är bekvämt i alla fattningar

Then the finger guard doesn't get in the way of work either. But it is quite diminutive with a height of around five millimetres. But it is enough in return for you to feel that it is there. More is not needed on an average hunting/outdoor knife that is not to be used for stabbing, in my opinion.

Sheath

The case that comes with the Bäver 10 is quite simple but works well. It is a traditional "fold-over" type leather case. Slightly less traditional is the internal plastic reinforcement.

What makes the case more locally rooted and somewhat more exclusive than many others is that it uses reindeer skin as a material. On the outside, the Karesuando knife logo is embossed into the leather, as can be seen. 

The case is sewn from reindeer leather.

The fit is good as the knife does not rattle when it is in the sheath. Something I am somewhat allergic to. I assume that all hunters are like that, too, as you don't want anything to make a sound when you are on a pass or sneaking up on something. In my case, it's mostly because I get annoyed by the sound.

The knife is so secure that you can turn the sheath upside down and shake it slightly without it falling out. If you flick your wrist, of course, you have the knife on the ground.

The belt loop accommodates belts up to 40 mm wide

To carry the knife, there is a simple belt loop that is attached with three rivets made of antique-treated steel. The loop is nothing out of the ordinary but allows the knife to hang at a comfortable height. This makes it easy to reach and pull, and put away again. Personally, I am not a fan of knives that sit too high on the belt. Perhaps because I have a certain roundness, which means that the handle then tends to poke me in the side.

The loop takes belts up to about four cm thick. In other words, it works with everything except the widest waist belts.

Conclusion

With the Bäver 10, Karesuandokniven continues to expand its range with functional utility knives in luxury packaging. Function is based on tradition and simplicity. The latter is also what the aesthetics have developed from. It is simple and clean with little gems here and there.

In this case, it is the overall lines together with well-chosen materials that give the model its elegance. When this is then paired with good craftsmanship, it results in a superb knife.

By "luxury packaging", I mean that the knife is made in Sweden and mostly by hand. It gives a special feeling which also permeates the quality control. I have several knives from Karesuando, and they have all been of the highest quality. I have had my oldest (Järven) since 1990.

Autumn - apples, quinces and a beaver

The materials are not only what gives the traditional connection, but also what anchors the knife locally. This applies to both the knife handle and the sheath. As expected, dark-stained birch, reindeer antler and brass are found here. The latter is said to scare away evil spirits, which may be needed. In Sami tradition, the material is linked to magical properties. The sheath is simple but well-made in reindeer leather.

The blade steel is also partly traditional. By that, I mostly mean that for being stainless, 12C27 is quite old. A steel that has been used extensively in Moraknivar and in a significant part of French knife manufacturing for many years. But now it is probably a bit dated, and I think an upgrade could be in order even in the slightly simpler editions of Karesuandokniven's products.

If you are going to stick to stainless steels, some are both equally rust-resistant and are quite tough, and at the same time keep their sharpness significantly longer than this. But when I spoke of gems above, I meant, among other things, that the very shiny blade finish is not only nice to look at but also makes the knife even more resistant to stains.

In terms of function, the Bävern 10 performs exactly as I hoped. The blade has a good bite, whether you are cutting a big piece of meat, cutting a rope or carving wood. In addition, the handle is ergonomic, not only comfortable to hold for a short while but also to work with. Then the knife is light and well-balanced. The knife alone weighs as little as 95 g, and the entire package with sheath ends at 162 g according to my scale. This means that it does not weigh down a pack when you are hiking, for example.

Karesuandokniven Bävern 10, a good companion on all kinds of journeys

So overall, Beaver is what it seems to be. A beautiful utility knife with that little extra that is sometimes hard to describe. What comes from good design, fine materials and solid experience.

The price of the knife is currently around 2645 SEK, and for that, you get a life companion. An excellent gift for someone you love or maybe yourself.

Karesuandokniven

Specifications:

Length Overall: 210 mm
Blade Length: 100 mm
Blade Thickness: 3,2 mm
Steel: 12C27, HRC58
Weight: 95 g (knife only, 162 g with sheath)
Handle: Birch/Reindeer horn/Brass
Sheath: Reindeer leather

Produced by Karesuandokniven, made in Sweden


/ J - in pursuit of my northern roots