But what does a fällkniven or benchmade with a worse sheath and equal super steel cost in Australia? is it just the lack of a well known brannd that make you say it's a bit overpriced?
I think you could be right, down here the knife world is certainly not as established as it is in the northern hemisphere and is a contributing factor to why I thought that. The next knife on my wish list is actually the S1, it will be interesting to see how it stacks up.
I got a 95 in Elmax not too long ago and love it so far. Came with a couple stupidly sharp edges that needed to be knocked down, but other than that love the ergos and the elmax has been holding up great in Florida salt and humidity. I do wish the blade stock was more in the 3mm range, though i use a skrama for batoning so i get that people may want the extra girth(heyooo) for that. I think its a bit of a holdover from the FFG versions. Gotta say though i paid 156usd, it looks like 400aud would be essentially 300usd, and not sure i could bring myself to pay that much for it. I suppose it really just depends what the other options cost to determine where the value lays. ~300 is what ive been paying for Bark Rivers in CruWear / 3V, if not more. Great knife. Great overview. This is one of the best factory bushcrafty knives out there imo. Ive tried too many of them.
Some of the most serious knifemakers ouut there! Their steel and heat treatment is better than most famous knives. Only negative, is that their famus Trapper, is a hunting knife with a woods edge. Their handles are thin and heir overall desing, is meant for field dressing and such tasks, not for wood carving. In he same time scandi isn't the best grind for a hunting knife. Other than that, their knives and overall quality, is some of the best you can get. Their heat tretment, is "Custom level quality". In my opinion, better than Fallkniven, Bark River level of quality. You can tell the perfect heat treatment, when the edge doesn't chip or roll when you use the knife, it holds its edge "forever", however it's very easy to keep that edge sharp, like if it was a softer steel. Poor heat treatment, will show the opposite performance, at least on one of the points I mentioned. That and a lot of experience on how different steels perform, are enough for someone to tell a good, from a bad heat treatment. Enzo, now Brisa, makes some great user knives. Review was spot on, good job! In my opinion, Europe makes the best user knives and steels. Then the US and Japan.
My 115 elmax scandi held its factory edge for over a year of reasonable “bushcraft” use and lots of whittling on 2x4, basswood and of course various green and dead forest woods. Its first sharpening was stoneless, only a leather wheel and Tormek paste. Elmax is by far my favorite hard use bush steel; tough, truly stainless, holds its edge for the duration of a trip into the woods and if it needs touching up a strop with tormek paste will get it done. I like my 115 enough that I just ordered a 95 in elmax too. I think the 115 is a great all around option for hiking with just one knife, but its a little long for finer detail work and a little small for hard beating.. so I’m adding the 95 as my whittling/bushcrafting blade to go with my primary Bradford Guardian 5.5 (in elmax) and beater TKC Architect 6.5 (3v) as my three blade bush combo.
Looking back at this review, apart from the terrible lighting 😂 I honestly need to revisit this knife, it’s honestly god like how well it maintains an edge. I strop mine after I get home and it’s back to razor sharp. I’m on the hunt for another elmax blade so I’ll check out those ones you mentioned. Hope you’re staying safe through the madness out there mate 🍻
@@freeroamsociety7301 definitely check out the Guardian 5.5 (dont confuse w/ the 5, they’re different). The 5.5 is near perfect and if I could keep only one knife the 5.5 would be it; long enough but not too long, thick enough but not heavy, it’s thin enough behind the edge to slice very well but thick enough to be durable, great tip without being delicate, comfortable grip without being fat, heavy or slick… and Bradford’s heat treat is excellent, no chips/dings/rolls and holds its edge a looong time but can still be stropped back to life in the woods. I also have a Guardian 6 in 3v.. its easily the best 3v heat treat amongst the several 3v blades I own. Bradfords 3v stays keener longer when my other 3v blades still stay sharp, but not hair popping. Bradfords also strops better without rounding over/convexing the edge too easily. Bradford’s Guardian 3 in saber and sheepsfoot (m390) are excellent mounted to a pack strap using their taco style kydex sheaths, same for the Guardian 4 but its tip is too thin for “bushcraft” and its better for lightweight hiking, camping, cleaning small game and general food prep/slicing without much woodwork except fine whittling. If you ever come across a LT Wright Forest Trail scandi in 3v be sure to grab it.. an absolutely fantastic scandi option because its a little thicker than most and the scani flats are wider which makes it super easy to hone/strop to perfection, even in the field. My standard convex Bark River Bravo .25” thick 3v, convex Bravo Alpha in 3v and my Gunny Scandi in 3v are also among my favorites. I find the Alpha to also be a really good all around one knife option.
@@dash8465 by the sounds of that you’ve got some seriously good knives, 3v is probably my favourite steel with how it performs all round. I’ve got my eye on a couple of LT Wright knives, just waiting for the right moment to grab it. We’re a little limited down here with stock availability, special orders we can get but we pay a stupid amount for them. Appreciate the suggestions Dash, I’ll keep my eye out for them ✌🏼🍻
@@freeroamsociety7301 which LT’s are you wanting? I have a 4 day old Genesis in A2, black micarta handle and a LT kydex sheath (taco style) that I’d let go of. Its not really my thing, nothing wrong with it at all, I just like the Forest Trail better and the Genesis is redundant. Let me know if you want it, we can do the whole photos thing.. Whats it cost to ship to Aussieland, any idea?
