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

Review Karesuandokniven Pältsa

  

-  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

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

New Knife - Brisa Nessmuk

A Finnish interpretation of an American classic, could it be any good? I suspected so and have always been fascinated by Nessmuk as a knife type. It is so unusual that when you see lists of blade types, it is usually counted as a separate category. The appearance is characterized by the fact that the blade is actually wider at the front than at the base and that it has a tip that strongly resembles a typical butcher knife. This in turn has its very natural explanation as the inspiration is believed to have been "buffalo skinners".

The story begins about 130 years ago with a book about carpentry and camping written by Georg Washington Sears who in many ways can be said to be the source behind expressions such as "bushcraft" and "wilderness survival" as it is called nowadays. The name Nessmuk is said to mean "wood duck" in the Algonquin language and was the name of a young man from the Narragansett tribe with whom Sears became friends and who became his teacher in hunting, fishing, and outdoor life.

This is Finnish Brisa's interpretation of a Nessmuk.

Brisa Nessmuk

This knife is available in a couple of different versions where Brisa offers handles in black or green Micarta. Although I could not help but think that such a classic model with roots in the late 19th century does best with natural materials. That is why I went for the birch handle. However, it is stabilized wood so it is almost as durable as a composite material. In passing, it can be said, even if it is to precede future review, that the handle is extremely comfortable to grip. If it's half as nice to work with, it's a hit.

Speaking of material, this knife comes with steel that I have not encountered before and which I have been curious about. It is a fairly well-known carbon steel variant with the designation 80CrV2. It is a steel that is known for both taking and holding an edge exceptionally well at the same time as it is very impact resistant. Therefore, it often reappears in knives aimed at both outdoor life and military use. It should be great for this type of knife in other words.

The sheath is fairly simple but well sewn and made of thick leather. All in all, a very appealing package that will be fun to test in the coming months. 

/ J - found behind a spruce

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre