I got the chance to check out another in the Schrade Extreme Survival line.
This is the SCHF4, and it has a 6.75 inch Tanto blade of CR7 steel (which I am unfamiliar with) and a hard plastic coated Aluminum handle.
It comes in a hard plastic sheath which is held in a nylon webbing harness by the use of a snap closure mounted on the back of the hard sheath and front of the webbing and a hook and loop fastener on the wide primary sheath retaining strap near the top, and has a snap closure on a narrower secondary retainer near the bottom.
The sheath is M.O.L.L.E. compatible and offers a various carry options.
Out of the box just checking the knife and sheath out...While I like the optionally configurable sheath system, I personally think it would be better if the main sheath retaining strap used snap closures on the outside as that would be more secure and I think it would be better if the working end of the straps faced the opposite direction (to the rear) as facing forward it is much more likely to get pulled open by vines and brush. Also I see one issue with the knife retaining strap. While it does have a snap closure it is positioned in such away as to allow the knife to be partially drawn while snapped closed. This wouldnt be much of an issue in most instances however if the knife were carried in an inverted position on a M.O.L.L.E. vest or on the shoulder strap of an L.C.E. the knife will work its way down exposing 1.5 inches of very sharp serrations, that could cause a nasty little wound that would be better avoided. This part can be easily fixed by cutting the thread holding the strap and moving the retainer down and inch and a half.
As for the knife its self it feels very solid and is VERY sharp. It handles cutting braided cord like it is just thread and it easily and cleanly slices through webbing with either edge, or the primary and secondary points.
It has a good balance point.
It handles chopping pretty well. The handle is mildly textured and grooved to enhance the grip and is easier to keep a grip on than I first expected feeling the hardness, though we'll see later on in the summer how it does with sweaty hands. It does have a nice swell on the end of the pommel which helps keep a good grip when chopping. And it has good temperature properties so far, warms up quick in the hand. It also has a screw in one side but removing the screw I wasn't able to pull or tap (did not try to hammer it off) the handle off so I'm not sure what's up with that.
It made quick work of chopping through these hardwood limbs.
And splitting them was no problem at all
With no damage to the blade or even the finish, and no loosening of the handle at all
It has a 2.75 inch section of very sharp serrations.
That easily cut through this ¼ inch plywood like a small saw.
And it did well on penetration with multiple plunges through this ¼ inch plywood with only very minor, only a few thousandths of an inch, tip failure.
And after all that its still shaving sharp.
Other than some issues I have with the sheath, it's a decent knife, especially if you weigh in that it goes for around $37.00 on line and about $50.00 retail. I think itll be a good knife to add to the user group. I'll see how it holds up over time.
This is the SCHF4, and it has a 6.75 inch Tanto blade of CR7 steel (which I am unfamiliar with) and a hard plastic coated Aluminum handle.
It comes in a hard plastic sheath which is held in a nylon webbing harness by the use of a snap closure mounted on the back of the hard sheath and front of the webbing and a hook and loop fastener on the wide primary sheath retaining strap near the top, and has a snap closure on a narrower secondary retainer near the bottom.
The sheath is M.O.L.L.E. compatible and offers a various carry options.
Out of the box just checking the knife and sheath out...While I like the optionally configurable sheath system, I personally think it would be better if the main sheath retaining strap used snap closures on the outside as that would be more secure and I think it would be better if the working end of the straps faced the opposite direction (to the rear) as facing forward it is much more likely to get pulled open by vines and brush. Also I see one issue with the knife retaining strap. While it does have a snap closure it is positioned in such away as to allow the knife to be partially drawn while snapped closed. This wouldnt be much of an issue in most instances however if the knife were carried in an inverted position on a M.O.L.L.E. vest or on the shoulder strap of an L.C.E. the knife will work its way down exposing 1.5 inches of very sharp serrations, that could cause a nasty little wound that would be better avoided. This part can be easily fixed by cutting the thread holding the strap and moving the retainer down and inch and a half.
As for the knife its self it feels very solid and is VERY sharp. It handles cutting braided cord like it is just thread and it easily and cleanly slices through webbing with either edge, or the primary and secondary points.
It has a good balance point.
It handles chopping pretty well. The handle is mildly textured and grooved to enhance the grip and is easier to keep a grip on than I first expected feeling the hardness, though we'll see later on in the summer how it does with sweaty hands. It does have a nice swell on the end of the pommel which helps keep a good grip when chopping. And it has good temperature properties so far, warms up quick in the hand. It also has a screw in one side but removing the screw I wasn't able to pull or tap (did not try to hammer it off) the handle off so I'm not sure what's up with that.
It made quick work of chopping through these hardwood limbs.
And splitting them was no problem at all
With no damage to the blade or even the finish, and no loosening of the handle at all
It has a 2.75 inch section of very sharp serrations.
That easily cut through this ¼ inch plywood like a small saw.
And it did well on penetration with multiple plunges through this ¼ inch plywood with only very minor, only a few thousandths of an inch, tip failure.
And after all that its still shaving sharp.
Other than some issues I have with the sheath, it's a decent knife, especially if you weigh in that it goes for around $37.00 on line and about $50.00 retail. I think itll be a good knife to add to the user group. I'll see how it holds up over time.
