Customer Review

Recently I tracked down Paul Robinson, the Canadian distributor of Fallkniven knives and ordered an S1. Paul is knowledgeable and enthusiastic promoter of Fallkniven and was more than willing to discuss his products and knives in general. I was so impressed with the S1 when it arrived, that I ordered an F1 and WM1 the very next day. At that time, I was offered the chance to review a 'loaner' Professional hunter (PHK), one of Fallkniven's newest knives. I was like a kid in a candy shop waiting for the parcel to arrive. The F1 and the WM1 would have been enough of a treat, but the PHK was the icing on the cake. From the second I opened the package the quality,heft and durability of the PHK were obvious.Manufacture was detailed and finishing exceptional. Esthetically the PHK didn't hit me as hard as expected, I prefer a straighter more classic design like the 'F1', or 'master hunter'. It wasn't until I started to use the PHK that I realized how well it is designed.Somehow,they have combined the functionality of a longer swept 'skinner' blade and the utility of a slightly dropped point.No punctured guts here.the blade shape grows on you, the more you use it.As a 'loaner' knife, the PHK came to me lightly used.The edge was plenty sharp enough and had seen some service.I was a little reluctant to sharpen someone else's knife, but I gently bit the knife onto a ceramic sharpener.WOW! the steel took and edge like no other factory knife I have handled. The sharpening instructions on the Fallkniven's website give a good insight into the way to treat Fallkniven's specialty powder steel.I can see where a diamond touch up may be needed once in a long while, but the blade certainly responds to ceramic. I packed the PHK for several deer hunting expeditions.I saw many deer,but none with the required number of 'pointy bits'.this was quite a disappointment for someone whose central British Columbia yard has a deer in it every day!. I did clean several Grouse with it and prepare some tailgate meals with the PHK.the PHK works well on kitchen duty and around the campfire.Its thick blade would not be a chef's first choice for home use, but its razor sharp blade make it a dandy addition to a camp kitchen.My wife used the knife around our home and found it excellent for food preparation,noting in particular the handles great design and utility when wet or slimy.She said she would have liked 'finger ridges' on the handle as well though. My evaluation of the PHK places it pretty high on my list of well designed and well built knives. As a 'knife nut' I habitually carry two or three knives;a utility folder, for farm or automobile repair,a MORA fixed blade for potentially destructive tasks that might chip or dull a better blade and a 'hunting' knife used for processing big game or my own beef cattle. Where does the PHK fit into this plan?. I still pack a folder and store several MORA fixed blades in vehicles and tool boxes.I have replaced my usual utility knife with the F1 (and sometimes the WM1) and look forward to the arrival of my very own PHK for the game use. Written by SK McDonald