View Full Version : Allan Blade Bushcrafter Arrived, great knife.
Geoffrey
25-10-2004, 21:22
Hi guys my Allan Blade Bushcrafter arrived today. I will get some pics and a little review up on it soon.
Here is what I think so far,
Sheath, kydex, great quality, tight fit, but not my thing. I am a leather fan so very soon this will have a nice new pair of pants.
Handle, micarta with mosaic pins. Flawless comes to mind when i think of the handle shape. Near perfect for me. Just the right length and fit. First knife that I have ever had fit me this well. There is one odd thing the micarta has a very strong smell to it. :?: Kinda a chemical smell. I have emailed Allan about this, nothing wrong with it just kinda smelly, will fad with time I would think though.
Blade, 01 flat ground with a convex cutting. Grind lines are perfect, cutting edge was sharp but not sharp enough for me. Then again no knife comes sharp enough for me. Oh well a few hours with a strop and she will be a light sabre. :yikes:
Overall fit and finish outstanding for a knife of any price range. Great knife, great guy and one very happy customer. :biggthump
Congrats! I know you will get some great use out of it.
Interesting about the smell. I own quite a few of Allan's knives and never noticed an odor. Does it smell like epoxy?
Geoffrey
26-10-2004, 01:27
not sure what it is, just a really odd smell, only from the micarta not the blade, weird.
Geoffrey
I was gonna order one of those, but didn't possess the strength to wait!!
MagiKelly
26-10-2004, 10:21
I was gonna order one of those, but didn't possess the strength to wait!!
I thought you had ordered one with a full tang construction?
Anyway I have not forgotton about doing a review on the Scandi PackPal I just have not had time yet. The more I play with it the more I think it could become my main knife with the bushcrafter being relagated to second place. For most of the day to day stukk I do the shorter thinner blade seems much better.
And Geoffrey regarding the Kydex sheath I was initially just the same as you but do not be surprised if you find youreslf being won over by the practicallity of the Kydex.
AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH I mistook it for alan wood!!!!
Your right, i had ordered one...oops.
MagiKelly
26-10-2004, 10:57
AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH I mistook it for alan wood!!!!
Your right, i had ordered one...oops.
Glad to see you injury has not effected you brain.......................mu ch.
:roll: :lol:
Easy mistake to make :?:
Allan Blade
27-10-2004, 06:58
Hey,
Yes that smell thing is a mystery to me too.
The only thing i can come up with is that it being freshly ground and formed and sanded opened up the handle to a bit of Outgasing of the Phenolic resin used in the Micarta.
SHould go away fast though i would think.
I can smell the phenolic on handles somtimes myself but i have to put my nose right on the handle to smell it. weird.
Anyway glad the knife made it to you ok.
Now back to grinding for me ! !
Regards, Allan Blade
My Allan Blade Field puukko did have that smell also. I recently ground a micarta handle for a project knife and it did smell exactly the same - so it must be from micarta grinding.
The smell will go away after a few weeks. The more you use it, the faster it will go away.
-Emile
Hows mine coming along Allan? :o):
Geoffrey
27-10-2004, 14:18
Used the knife yesterday, no pics though. Very nasty day, overcast and grey but I can give you a run down on how it went. I started but snap cutting some green limbs, workes very well on branches up to an inch, never tried bigger ones. Snap cutting vines, blackberry branches, and the like were a breeze also. The knife is awesome, carved a mini figure 4 trap setup, whittled some very very fine fuzzy sticks, split some storm damaged pine with not one bit of trouble. The handle is very well shape for a wide variety of grips and works very well in my larger hands. I will continue using my new fav knife. Once I get a good day out, I will get some good pics of it in action.
Geoffrey,
Sounds like an extremely nice knife. I am considering getting one. I'll have to try and find out if they are available in a more traditional look with a leather sheath or nice wood handles. Perhaps not as practical but much more asthetically pleasing. Something like that.
MagiKelly
27-10-2004, 16:23
Hootchi
Allan will do them in most any wood you could ask for also he does them with mosaic pins if you want. Wood is not an extra but the pins would be. As to the sheath I do not think he does leather.
tenbears10
27-10-2004, 16:25
But it would be eaisy enough to get someone else to do a leather sheath for you. Or give it a go yourself maybe if you are into that kind of thing.
Bill
But i've heard (John!) that the kydex sheaths are very good!
Geoffrey
27-10-2004, 18:01
Allan does wonderful work, and will work with a wide variety of steel, pins and and handle material. I am already saving up for a maple burl, mosaic, and S30V bushcrafter. Paul Bos does the heat treat on that type of stainless, and from what I have heard Paul Bos is an awesome man for heat treating steel.
The kydex is nice. I am not a kydex fan but it is growing on me. Great overall package. And man you cannot beat the price. For me it came down to an Ontario made Randall design Tak http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3993 or this handmade bushcrafter by Allan.
Its a no brainer now, this guy is great to deal with and a real pro at making an affordable knife that you can use and look good usin.
I am impressed with the finish on the blade, very tough. Much better than that black bake on stuff used on Ka-Bars and the like. This stuff is pretty solid. I have worn a few spots on it. Not from use but from my lack of convex sharpening skills. I have put a standard V edge on the knife at about 22 degrees using a diamond guided setup. This thing will scare the hairs off you arm before the razor sharp steel even touches the skin.
Once again I cannot say enough good things about Allan, his work, and this knife.
Expect more and some pictures soon.
Geoffrey.
MagiKelly
27-10-2004, 20:39
But i've heard (John!) that the kydex sheaths are very good!
The Kydex sheath is very good. I was going to replace it with a leather one as well but was won round to it. I see Geoffrey seems to be going the same way.
Geoffrey, I have the maple handle and mosaic pins on my Pack Pal and they are great. I sense you are going to be another Allan Blade fan. Then again I have yet to hear of someone with one of his knifes that has any complaints.
But it would be eaisy enough to get someone else to do a leather sheath for you. Or give it a go yourself maybe if you are into that kind of thing.
Bill
thanks Bill and magikelly
will think about it. Iv made my own knife. it was good but nothing special. I would need a near perfect sheath to go with that knife.
But the kydex looks good......
Geoffrey
28-10-2004, 20:43
Hey guys finally got a nice day and got out again with my bushcrafter. I have a few pics I will try to post them.
First Picture is Bushcrafter used to make friction fire setup
http://img93.exs.cx/img93/7564/100_0018.jpg
Second Picture is Bushcrafter and figure 4 trap setup
http://img93.exs.cx/img93/9320/100_0023.jpg
Third picture is Bushcrafter batoned into a nice sized tree
http://img93.exs.cx/img93/1600/100_0051.jpg
Abd lastly the Bushcrafter just takin in the sun.
http://img93.exs.cx/img93/8797/100_0046.jpg
Hope this works. I am not exactly a pro at posting pics.
Through all the tasks the bushcrafter performed very well. Handle is comfy to use in a variety of tasks. Whittles very nicely, and batons like a dream.
Geoffrey.
Edited, trying new pic host.
Hope this one works.
That knife looks delicious. Im not too sure on the grind though. My preperence :roll:
Geoffrey
28-10-2004, 22:40
weird I can see them fine. Anyone else having problems seeing them?
Thanks.
weird I can see them fine. Anyone else having problems seeing them?
Thanks.
It's varied. I have seen them but can't now and when I could, I couldn't see them all. :?:
Try hosting them at www.imageshack.us
BIG-TARGET
28-10-2004, 22:48
And it is priced very reasonable too!!! :You_Rock_
My biggest problem is that I'd feel unfaithful to BRK&T!! :shock:
MagiKelly
28-10-2004, 23:11
It's varied. I have seen them but can't now and when I could, I couldn't see them all. :?:
Me too. Looks good when I can see it.
Must get round to getting some shots of my PackPal.
MagiKelly
28-10-2004, 23:13
My biggest problem is that I'd feel unfaithful to BRK&T!! :shock:
Don't feel guilty. I am sure that Mike probably has one as well, so if it is good enough for him..............
Im the same with the pictures. very nice woodland you got out there!
Geoffrey
29-10-2004, 03:52
really sorry that the pics are not working 100%. Is there anyway to attach a pic instead of linking a pic?
Thanks.
I think your host site only allows so many views per day or some such nonsense.
I see them now and the images are great and that knife is real nice.
I second the ImageShack idea...super host site, easy to use, reliable, and free.
http://www.imageshack.us/
Finally got to see they pics and they are super! Looks like you had some fun! :super:
Great pictures!
What are you hoping to catch with your figure 4 trap baited with a shiny knife? Probably a bushcrafter!!
Paganwolf
29-10-2004, 10:58
Nice one Geoff, nice also to see that method of bow drill set up too :biggthump hope you have many hours of fun! :biggthump
Looks like a robust all-rounder Geoffrey! Thanks for posting those pictures and sharing that with us! :biggthump
Thanks Geoffrey, for making the wait even harder! ;)
BIG-TARGET
29-10-2004, 22:02
Don't feel guilty. I am sure that Mike probably has one as well, so if it is good enough for him..............
Oh well,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,So much for Will Power!!!!! Just sent in an oprder to Alan Blade for a Bushcrafter(Full flat grind & GCM handle)!!!!!
Thanks for the review Geoffrey. I have just ordered one :biggthump
Geoffrey
30-10-2004, 03:26
Wow, thanks for all the good words. Glad you guys like what you saw and heard.
Geoffrey.
Geoffrey, could you post some pictures of the Kydex sheath and the new sheath once you have it please :-).
Geoffrey
30-10-2004, 04:13
Sure thing. I will get some nice pics of the knife, sheath, and firesteel. And once I make a leather sheath I will put up some pics of that too.
Geoffrey.
Sure thing. I will get some nice pics of the knife, sheath, and firesteel. And once I make a leather sheath I will put up some pics of that too.
Geoffrey.
Many thanks :biggthump
Geoffrey
30-10-2004, 20:52
Here are some pics I took today of the knife, sheath, and Swedish Firesteel.
Hope this works :-P
Bushcrafter, Sheath, and leaf
http://img9.exs.cx/img9/4870/100_0081.jpg
Bushcrafter, and Swedish steel
http://img9.exs.cx/img9/2362/100_0089.jpg
And lastly Bushcrafter and the trees
http://img9.exs.cx/img9/4350/100_0090.jpg
Hope you all can see these.
If you have any trouble and want to get a copy emailed to you post here and I will provide you with plenty more pics.
:pack:
Geoffrey.
I am not a great fan of Kydex, but that does not look that bad, thanks for posting the pics Geoffrey :biggthump
MagiKelly
31-10-2004, 16:43
Just posted some pictures of my Bushcrafter (along with the Pack Pal) here
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/community/showthread.php?p=48004#post480 04
bushwacker bob
31-10-2004, 21:37
great pictures John, have you developed a preference for either?
I thought the pack-pal had a little finger dent where the choil is :?:
MagiKelly
31-10-2004, 22:13
great pictures John, have you developed a preference for either?
Yes I definately prefer Allan Blade knifes to any other knife I have tried.
As to choosing between the models, No I do not have a preferance yet. I had thought that the Pack Pal was going to oust the Bushcrafter but using them both today just confimed how much I like each of them. Both knifes are first class and very capable. If I had to have only one knife it would probably be the Pack Pal but only if I was absolutely FORCED to only have one. Its smaller size is less frightening for the locals for when you are out and about and for a serious trip I would have a GB SFA for heavier duties. But the Bushcrafter is a fine knife and not really that big it is more than capable for fine stuff too.
So no preferance yet. I think the wooden handle on the Pack Pal also helps to make it look a lot less threatening. Looking back I would perhaps have got a Bushcrafter with a dark wood handle and mosaic pins, heck I still might but I do not know if I could bring myself to sell my current Bushcrafter. Having two would just be wasteful.
Of course once my Runt turns up everything could change again so watch this space.
I thought the pack-pal had a little finger dent where the choil is :?:
Allan had some problems.
Have a look at Post No: 24 (http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5303)
MagiKelly
31-10-2004, 22:28
I thought the pack-pal had a little finger dent where the choil is :?:
That was the first version but Allan had problems with that design so he modified it. If you check back through the various threads you will see the history. The new design has the coffin tang that you know and love :wink:
Mine's winging it's way to me this week!!! :o): :o): :o): :o): :pack: