Fallkniven TK2 vs F1 Knife Review and Winter Fire Starting

[1013637]

Great video, seamlessly worked a review and fire making how-to into one enjoyable vid for us who must live vicariously at home :)

[MrPop369]

nice video's thanks

[MrMotte62]

HELLO ,i saw your review of bravo1 & tk2 ,which of these two knifes do you prefer for outdoor activity? and finaly what do think of "katz lion cub"knife?THANK

[CrawlingRoad]

@MrMotte62 Honestly I carry the Bravo 1, TK2 or F1. Just depends on my mood! The F1 though is about 1/2 the price of the others and is a great all around knife. So it is a good deal for price/performance. I don't know about the Katz knife so I can't comment. 

[antpop1]

@CrawlingRoad If I could expand on the question regarding the Bravo 1 vs. F1 & TK2...Is there a preference in grips among the 3? The TK2 & F1 seem to have a better grip material & pattern but the Bravo 1 seems to have more ergonomic curves to it. Does one sit better in the hand? And after extended use? Thanks Craig.

[CrawlingRoad]

@antpop1 The Bravo 1 has a very comfortable handle overall. The TK2 and F1 are less so, but still pretty good. The Fallkniven have much better grip in wet weather. The handles are also more durable. Knives with scale handles can come loose. The molded Thermorun handles on the Fallkniven will not have that problem ever. I'd say it's a bit of a toss up. I like the F1/TK2 though because it is so thin and easy to carry. You don't even know it's on your hip. The Zytel sheath is excellent.

[exotime]

where both knives in convex edge ?.. the convex will bite into the wood nicer. my f1 came with a convex edge but admittedly i never maintained the convex and eventually put a regular edge on it..

.great video! (great production values)

[CrawlingRoad]

@exotime Yes I kept the convex edge. I prefer it over other grinds. It is strong and carves well. The convex starts further back on the TK2 vs. the more flat grind to convex of the more stout F1. This makes the TK2 a better slicer. IMO. Although I suspect the edge on the F1 could take more raw abuse. But the F1 is designed for more abuse. The 3G steel on the TK2 though is really tough stuff!

[exotime]

@CrawlingRoad thanks ! ill keep an eye out for fallkniven's 3G. keep up the great work!

[JDYTC]

@CrawlingRoad does that mean that if you'd accidentally hit a pebble or whatever batoning, the laminated VG10 takes that better than the powdered 3G?

If the TK2 is the better bushcraft knife and if batoning is a part of bushcraft, could you confirm then that the thinner tip of the TK2 has no problems taking batoning?

Thank you and kind regards from Amsterdam.

Awesome channel by the way!

[CrawlingRoad]

@JDYTC I don't know. I don't baton much. But hitting rocks with any steel is going to have potential problems. I like the TK2 and F1 for outdoors/bushcraft. I have made a bow drill set with the F1 with no problems for instance. The TK2 would do just as well. The TK2 has a thinner tip but I doubt it would bend easily. The 3G steel is stronger than the VG-10. However I wouldn't beat on the tip of any knife personally. I love Amsterdam. A lovely city my friend!

[JDYTC]

@CrawlingRoad thank you very much! Amsterdam is awesome indeed, but very little bushcraft possibilities lol (you can't have it all huh). I'm very surprised that you state you'd never beat on the tip of any knife - that means you never baton with a knife trough wood as a bushcrafter? :S

To put it differently: the only complaints people have about Fällknivens is that they chip/can be very brittle, do you think that the 3G is less or more brittle than the VG10? Often harder also means more brittle.

[CrawlingRoad]

@JDYTC Those knives are not brittle! Far from it. They are probably one of the strongest knives I've used. I only baton when I have to. It is really hard on a knife and my knife is one of my primary tools so I want to take care of it. When building a fire I can collect enough small pieces that I've rarely felt I have ever need to baton anything. I don't like beating on my knives if I don't have to. Not only can it break, but you can have a bad accident and be far from help.

[exotime]

crazy- i find it hard to imagine anything sharper then my f1 in vg10 lam..

[CrawlingRoad]

@exotime My F1 in VG10 is one of my sharpest knives. But the TK2 edge profile is thinner and it is sharper. But both knives are *excellent* outdoor knives. I love and use them both.

[Phatknives]

Very nice review. Nutnfancy has got some serioous competition ;)

[southerncross100]

G'day Craig

I enjoyed watching your video.

It's pleasing to see the TK2 getting some air time, as IMO it is the most versatile 4 inch knife Fallkniven makes.

regards

Mick

[CrawlingRoad]

@southerncross100 Hi Mick. Your comments on the knife forums was one of the things that convinced me to try out this knife. I'm glad I did. It's a wonderful performer. I agree that the TK2 does not get enough exposure. It's a gem. Thanks for your vids on the TK2. Greetings from the beautiful Pacific NW USA.

[southerncross100]

@CrawlingRoad

Since my original 6 month review of the TK2 was posted close to 2 & 1/2 years ago, I'm suprised anyone remembers it. lol

Especially after I did a bit of a clean up of my youtube videos & deleted the videos that showed the TK2 in use.

I'm glad you saw enough in it to warrant investing in what really is a world class knife.

Happy new year to you @ yours.

Kind regards

Mick

Kind regards

'Mick

[CrawlingRoad]

@southerncross100 Your video and Virtuovice convinced me to give it a shot. Unfortunately I have the Fallkniven virus and am thinking of getting an Idun NL5. This is starting to get expensive!

[losteden]

but 3g steel is fuc* for sharp allot of time it requires

[CrawlingRoad]

@losteden It does take a long time to sharpen if you let it get dull. Honestly I think VG-10 is fine as well. The 3G in the TK2 is wonderful, but a VG-10 version of the same blade geometry would be killer.

[southerncross100]

@losteden

After using 3G knives for nearly 4 years now (including taking the edge on most of them past what could honestly be described as a working edge),  this hasn't been my experience.

Kind regards

Mick

[driftworld86]

i want TK2... but it's too expensive... sucks to be a student w/ university eating up my bank *tears*

[gulernhagen]

Awesome video Craig, and greetings from a sub in Sweden!

A tip for anyone who might be wondering how to properly pronounce "Fällkniven", I can tell you that the character "ä" is pronounced more like an "e" than an "a". So, I think the easiest way for a native english speaker to get close to the proper pronunciation is to say the english word "fell" instead of "fäll". Also, the "k" in "kniven" is a hard "k", as in "kit-kat". Finally, the "i" is a short "i" just as Craig says it in the video.

[eschwebach]

Great video, I loved the tips on starting a winter fire and the TK2 looks like a great knife. BTW, I really enjoyed your vids from Scandinavia. Beautiful part of the world.

[virtuovice]

I like the clean design of TK2 very much. Its handle texture has much better traction than F1 as you say. I know TK2 bevel geometry is superb and very different from F1. I believe only 3G super steel can make it. It bites wood amazingly sharp. TK2 is the real user's knife. All the money is surely put into its function. TK2 is the best knife in the world. I believe people had better put two F1 money into a single TK2. It deserves the money seriously. It's my honest opinion. Thanks.

[CrawlingRoad]

@virtuovice Thanks for your comment. Your review of the knife is what inspired me to try one. I think you are right that the TK2 has an excellent blade geometry. I have only used it a little so far but like it. I have a F1 in 3G and like the steel in the TK2 as well. I think like you that the TK2 may become on of my favorite knives. I really like the Fallkniven designs and the Japanese steel. It is a great combination. Greetings from the Pacific, NW USA!

[fortlift40]

Love your vids. Thanks

[CrawlingRoad]

@fortlift40 Thanks for visiting. 

[noneactive]

Best review I've watched in a while! Good points, interesting!

[CrawlingRoad]

@noneactive Thanks.

[digitalartwerks]

Love your videos. I'm own the F1 & A1. I live in the Pacific Northwest as well, like you and find them great blades for all the rain we get. Keep em coming.

[CrawlingRoad]

@digitalartwerks It's wet out here. I love the Fallkniven stainless in these conditions.

[jamestreloar75]

Great vid as usual Craig. Thanks for taking the time to do these - I always find real world reviews/testing a lot more informative than the tabletops.

Your videos are appreciated here in Oz.

[CrawlingRoad]

@jamestreloar75 Thanks for the compliment. 

[Wintertrekker]

Great review! I love my F1 which is my #1 winter and summer belt knife. But man you have me lusting after that TK2. That is a beauty for sure! Do I "need" all my knives and yet one more? ...Bah...silly question eh! :o) Shavings: The F1 is a robust "survival" knife and comes very convexed out of the box. I put a micro bevel on my F1 with some water stones to help with shavings. Once micro beveled, then touch ups with stropping are still effective, and the shaving edge angle is improved IMO.

[CrawlingRoad]

@Wintertrekker I will look into that. I tried to re-profile the edge a bit but the blade is too thick for the finer work. This is fine because the F1 is supposed to be a stout survival blade. It still works well for everything I need it to do.

[TheJungleD]

Thank you. I will buy a DC4 stone and try out. For 1095 carbonsteel I use 600 and 1200 sandpaper and a leatherbelt to finish, it works fine.

I wait for your next video now.

PS, I have been in Norway few years ago, an amasing beautifull country, especially the fjords.

You should try Corsica some day.

[CrawlingRoad]

@TheJungleD Corsica sounds wonderful. Maybe one day.

[kinskibrain]

I have also longed for a TK2 in VG10 laminated steel. The only thing I worry about is whether VG10 would be able to support that wonderfully shallow angle of the TK2 edge. I doubt it. I might try and send my F1 for reprofiling to a thinner edge.

[kinskibrain]

Good video. Finally someone who shows that it is perfectly fine to make a fire without using a sword to baton through logs!

I used to own the TK 2 and still own and use the F1. I regret selling the TK 2 because the blade shape and profile was truly great and I have yet to try a sharper knife. The 3G is harder to sharpen though. I am the type who sharpens my knife every evening by the fire, so ease of sharpening takes priority. When cleaning a big elk there are advantages to the 3G's longevity.

[CrawlingRoad]

@kinskibrain For most fires there is no need to baton anything. IMO. When I made this video I'm wearing snowshoes and mobility is limited. So collecting wood is hard and I want to avoid swinging around razor sharp pieces of steel near my body if I can. I am split on 3G. It is fine but honestly the VG10 works just as well for my needs. But this knife blade profile of the TK2 is very good and I'm happy with the 3G so far.

[lelit41]

I'll offer a tip I saw in a Ray Mears video for your consideration. Try making a platform of sticks laid parallel. Especially in conditions like you showed, putting another platform of dry 'thumb-thick' sticks on top of the bark makes things even easier. I've found that round sticks provide plenty of air flow to kindling on top of them, and they make tightly packed coals very quickly. Since dry wood is a very good insulator, more of the heat is reflected into your newly sparked flames.

[CrawlingRoad]

@lelit41 Thanks for the tip. I will try it next time.

[Romanlegionnaire77]

Love the TK2...amazing knife and great review!

[TheJungleD]

Nice and serious video as always. The TK2 is expensive, so Im planing to buy an F1 to replace my ESEE4, cause it holds the sharpness better. (and cuts better I guess, isnt it?)

Could you tell me, or make a short video about your sharping method please? I really have problems with the harder steels. The only knifes I can get sharp are my ESEE's and my Opinel...

Thank you.

[CrawlingRoad]

@TheJungleD I will probably cover sharpening in the future. In the field I tend to use the Fallkniven DC4 stone. At home I will use the Knives Ship Free strop system. The 3G steel is very hard to sharpen. I much prefer the VG-10 steel in terms of maintenance.

[facatube]

hi like man with this wild location ;-)

I use lib touch trick too to check driness of wood.

I prefer to put wet side of bark against wet floor my point here with all respect

[Pattas29]

Really cool video and awesome review. Noce knofe but from the moment I saw the FI i wanted one. Just getting the money together to get one. Great video keep up the good work.

Take care

[CrawlingRoad]

@Pattas29 You can't go wrong with the F1. It's a great knife.

[mccullenj]

Thanks for the tip on the cold vs warm wood.

[n2wilderness]

Another excellent video!

[903lew]

Oh, and good to see someone use a TK2 for proper work. No batoning through logs (which is, to be frank, a bit silly most of the time), no cutting paper at home, no talking hands just producing knife porn. It's a Fällkniven - use it!

A question about the TK2:

It's quite a pricy piece of steel, is it work the price increase?

[CrawlingRoad]

@903lew It is pricey because of the 3G. I wish Fallkniven offered this knife blade style in VG10. They could sell it for the price of the F1 I suspect and you'd get a choice of two great knives at the same price point.

[903lew]

@CrawlingRoad

I don't know. I'm extremly happy with the quality and performance of Lam. VG10. Can't say I've ever felt the need for a harder steel (especially when it must be a bitch to sharpen). Do you find the 3G to be twice as awesome as Lam VG10?

[CrawlingRoad]

@903lew "Do you find the 3G to be twice as awesome as Lam VG10?" - No I don't. Just twice as much of a pain to sharpen. I'd like to see a VG10 option on this knife. But you can't have everything and this blade is still excellent in 3G.

[903lew]

As always - great video!

I've found that simply knocking two sticks together also gives you a pretty good idea about the relative dryness of sticks. A nice "knakk" or "knikk" means good wood, a "nokk" or "klonk" means bad wood. Of course, this only works with small branches.

A request/suggestion though - I wouldn't mind seeing what it is you're cooking on that fire. It's always been my favorite part of being in the forest. ^^

[CrawlingRoad]

@903lew I was just boiling water today for something quick. So no gourmet stuff going on.