New Knife - Karesuandokniven Tundran

It may not be a secret that I appreciate the Swedish brand  Karesuandokniven. I bought my first knife from them in the early nineties, and the model was Järven. A knife that is still in the range, thirty-five years later. Then I received an Uraka as a gift from my mother a few years later, a knife that is, for that reason, one of my most appreciated.

A couple of them have also been reviewed here on the blog, such as Galten, Pältsa, and most recently Bäver 10. It was a whole six years since I wrote something about the first one. Time flies as usual. Now, however, it is time for news, not just for me but for everyone, as this is a new knife from the world's northernmost knife manufacturer in Karesuando!

Welcome to the model called Tundran.

A box that makes me long for the mountains, you know what it contains

On their website, Karesuandokniven calls the Tundran an all-around knife. This is not misleading in any way, but at the same time, it should be added that this applies to most of their products. The difference between the blades on the different models is not very big from a broader perspective, and the handle is certainly different, but the difference is sometimes subtle.

Karesuandokniven Tundran

In this case, it specifically means a knife with a blade that is 100 mm long, with a height of 21 mm. Proportions that are quite common for this type of knife. The thickness is 3.2 mm.

The steel used is the classic Sandvik 12C27.* A steel that is perhaps somewhat simple but well proven. The hardness is stated at 58 HRC, which is quite soft. It will be interesting to see how it behaves during use. The grind is a classic "Scandi grind" as it is often called these days. It can also be said to be a low sabre grind with just an edge or a zero grind. As you know, it gives a specific set of properties that I intend to discuss more in a future review.

Tundran, a beautiful knife that hopefully performs as well as it feels good in the hand!

The handle is made of dark-stained masur birch with a brass front edge. What distinguishes the handle is that it is relatively narrow and slightly longer than usual, as well as strongly shaped. It is simply curved, with the noticeable stern being particularly noticeable. Even when you hold it for the first time, you can see that it fits very well in your hand.

Other impressions are that the knife is both light and well-balanced. The weight without the sheath is 95 grams, and the entire package, including the sheath, is 150 grams.

The sheath is made of cowhide and is of classic Scandinavian cut. It includes a pendant made of a leather cord, and it ends with a leather nib. The latter fulfils a function, but I will come back to that.

First impressions are that this is an equally beautiful knife in reality as in the picture. A classic Scandinavian knife with roots deeply rooted in the barren tundra or perhaps the lean Norrland soil. The materials are recognisable with wood, leather and Swedish steel.

Good choices that match both the appearance and hopefully the properties of the knife. I have some hopes for the latter, given my previous experiences with products from Karesuandokniven. Stay tuned for a future review of this knife! It just needs to be used first.

Karesundokniven

/ J - looking for his Norrland roots

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

* For example, these dimensions happen to be exactly the same as those found on the blade belonging to Bäver 10, as an example.

New Knife - Karesuandokniven Bäver 10

Sometimes, or rather quite often, my eyes are drawn to the traditionally classic and simple when it comes to aesthetics. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, they say. That certainly applies in this case. This is a really nice-looking knife. It was also the first thing that made me fall for it. That and previous experiences with this company. I have a couple of favorites from them already.

A typical box from Karesuandokniven

This knife is called Bäver 10. "Bäver" is Swedish for a certain well-known large rodent, a beaver. This knife is made by Swedish Karesuandokniven. 

Unsurprisingly, this company is found in the small village of Karesuando, north of the Arctic Circle.* A place that I can't help but feel a little related to, as parts of my family on my grandfather's side are from Tornedalen. It's the borderland between Sweden and Finland. 

Inside the box a leather sheath and an elegant hunting and outdoor knife

Karesuandokniven's products are deeply rooted in the area in which they are located. This applies to appearance as well as function and materials. Or the latter applies only partially. Certainly, traditional materials such as reindeer and moose antlers, reindeer skins, and Masur birch are found in knives and axes, but when it comes to steel, they have upgraded and diversified. Modern materials such as stainless damascus steel from Swedish Damasteel are often found in the most luxurious range. They also use "super steel" such as RWL-34 to name a few.

In this knife, however, a slightly less advanced but very capable steel is found, Sandvik 12C27. A very proven steel that has been used by many knife manufacturers in both Sweden and France over the years. This version came really sharp with a stated hardness of 58HRC. An excellent factory edge in the form of a classic "Scandi" grind.

The handle offers classic materials such as brass in the finger guard followed by a piece of reindeer horn and the rest is made of well-treated Masur birch. The reindeer horn is of course decorative, but the brass has its own history. If I'm not misinformed, it was historically attributed with properties such as helping to ward off evil spirits. It may be true or not, but it's pretty!

Karesuandokniven Bäver 10

Beaver 10 is a knife that is slightly larger than you might think. This manifests itself, among other things, in that you get a little more edge length than in the smaller knives from Karesuandokniven, as well as an extremely comfortable handle. The name actually tells how long the blade is as it measures 100 mm. There is also a smaller version for those who want it with an 80 mm blade. The thickness of the steel is a well-chosen 3.2 mm. The entire knife is 210 mm long. Then it is very light, my scale says the knife weighs in at 95g and the whole package stops at 164g.

The knife comes with a simple but well-stitched leather sheath with an excellent fit and an insert that prevents unnecessary wear.

Overall, my first impressions of this knife are at least as positive as the ones I got from seeing it in pictures. A very elegant model that feels good to hold and arrived really sharp. Now it will be interesting and fun to see how it behaves when it is used as well. A review follows, be sure!

Karesuandokniven

/ J - seek his roots

* For a while they marketed themselves as the northernmost knife brand in the world until I felt compelled to providentially point out that Norwegian Knivsmed Strömeng is found in Karasjok, which is another three-hundred kilometers in a straight north direction.

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

New Knife - Karesuandonkniven Pältsa

This is actually not Swedish Karesuandokniven's first foray into folding knife country. I don't know exactly how well the first two, called Nallo and Singi, were received or how they felt as I never tested them. But even though the handle material was stained birch, there was something about the rest of the design that didn't quite sit right with me. Then I thought that the materials, especially the knife steel, were not really on par with the price.

No, it's not a painting but the box that the knife comes in!

Now, however, a new attempt is being made, and that is with vengeance. Building folding knives is more complicated than carving a fixed blade, everyone knows that. Therefore, when it comes to the mechanics themselves, they have entered into a collaboration with some who have a lot of experience in the field. The choice fell on Maniago-based Fox Knives.

Pältsa comes with a leather case and lanyard with a button in reindeer horn

The result of that collaboration is really exciting on several points. A knife with Italian "action" imbued with Swedish tradition. The latter is perhaps the reason why the knife was named Pältsa, Sweden's northernmost high mountain if memory serves me correctly.

But it is not only the name that is typical but also the materials. Here you will find leather, reindeer antler, Masur birch and not to forget Swedish steel. Here they have chosen RWL34 from Damasteel. From that, you get a blade that measures 75 mm in length, 20 mm in height, and is 2.5 mm thick. Excellent measurements, at least on paper. In addition, they have chosen to temper the steel to a suitable 61HRC, which also sounds good in theory. The blade has also a Scandi grind, which of course is appropriate.

Karesuandokniven Pältsa

But that's where the traditional ends. In some respects, this is a hypermodern knife that is also completely unique! Or do you know of any other knife models on the market that are equipped with a back lock but at the same time are partially open in the back and have a back spacer? If you were to find it, you can try to find one that also combines a spacer in reindeer antler with handle sides in Masur birch and then rounds everything off with a frame in...carbon fiber! I can say that both that frame material* and the reindeer antler are completely new to me. However, it is very exciting. In addition to that, it can be added that the handle is completely three-dimensional shaped.

Overall, this makes for a very exciting and visually attractive knife that I really look forward to carrying and using. Especially as it is ultralight. A review is coming, be sure!

/ J 


* I have knives that are made entirely of carbon fiber but no one has built the frame entirely from it and combined it with wooden sides.

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

New Knife - Karesuandokniven Galten

Folding knives in all their glory, but in many cases it must be acknowledged that it is simpler and easier with a fixed blade or belt knife or whatever you prefer to call them. An ordinary knife quite simply. The interest in them varies from my side but has increased again lately and one of the reasons to why is this knife. It is called "Galten", the Boar and comes from the Karesuandokniven (Karesuando Knife Company).

If you do not know them, you have missed something. Karesuandokniven has taken their name after Karesuando, a small village located far up north in Sweden. North of the Arctic Circle, in fact, which makes them one of the world's northernmost knife manufacturer, as far as I know.* This is very much reflected in how they approache knife manufacturing as well. Incidentally, it is still done mostly by hand.

Karesuandokniven Galten, handmade hunting/outdoors knife from the far North

Galten, as beautiful to look at as to use

The location is also reflected in the shape and function of the knives. These are seemingly simple knives rooted in Swedish, Scandinavian and not least in Sami tradition. Knives for hunting, fishing and outdoor life based on centuries of proven experience coupled with some modern twists and innovations.

This also applies to Galten. It's a refined hunting and utility knife with that little extra. It is noticeable in the lines and in the well-made Masurian birch handle and not least in the excellent balance and how well the knife feels in the hand. The modern touch in this case comes from the stainless Sandvik steel.

It will be a joy to test this knife. But I have to admit that it has already started to follow along outdoors.

/ J - going out

* Only beaten by Norwegian Knivsmed Strömeng AS from Karasjok.