I carried that knife during the 03' ground invasion of Iraq! My teammate and I both bought one from a small town German knife shop about a week before we deployed. The guy made all kinds of claims of indestructability and said that some special forces unit hammered a bunch into a concrete wall and used them as a makeshift ladder. Never tried to confirm the story but we did similar tests and it wasn’t bull shit!! We did everything possible to break that knife! We used it as everything from a chisel to a MRE opener. We even cut holes in metal folding chairs to make field shitters. Hands down best knife I’ve ever used!
If you are ever in a survival situation do yourself a favor and refrain from chopping up logs. Just put one end of the long branch in the fire and feed it in as it burns. What a tremendous waste of calories and extra exposure to danger to hack away at a log with a knife. There is very little reason to use a knife for any type of wood processing. Just break up sticks by stepping on them etc. You only expose yourself to injury and risk damaging your blade when it is used for no reason. Just a pet peeve with the TH-cam "bushcraft" crowd. Thanks for the video.
True enough and thanks for the video. The comment wasn't necessarily targeted at you personally, just the overall persistence of the idea of chopping firewood with a knife. Extremely common in the backyard survivalist crowd. (see PM101) Cheers!
This is all true with the exception of having to get to dry wood if the forest is soaked. Believe me, in northern Wisconsin this is an issue sometimes. I know birch bark makes great tinder even when wet but having good, dry sticks from even a small, thin log goes a long way for getting a fire started quickly. But ultimately you are correct. Chopping a log for tossing it into an already established fire is ridiculous.
That's how I do my fires. Just feeding it into the flames. I rarely chop huge pieces of wood. And I carry an axe and still choose to just push the log into thebfire
Well that depends on your weather conditions. What is "correct" in survival is hugely dependent on where you live and what season it is. Sometimes cutting a log and splitting it is the only way to get to dry wood and make a fire in the first place because there is no dry firewood on the ground to just pick up. Also depending on how remote the location is calories may be a non-issue. If I get lost in the woods or in the mountains I know that I will be able to get out or get rescued the next day no matter what. Czech Republic is very densely populated, I can just pick a direction and walk into a road before lunch in the worst possible case where I picked my direction poorly and put no intelligen thought into stuff like listening for cars, looking for smoke or light pollution at night etc. Calories are inconsequential in my case. No matter how lean you are you have tens of thousands of calories in fat storage, you will not run out in one night. Freezing to death during that first and only night is pretty much the only way I could die short of faling off a cliff. Now your circumstances might be different. If you live in America (especially the middle part) you could be days away from help. So obviously your concerns will be different. But the skills and tacticts you create to accomodate your circumstances are not universal.
I have the F1 and A1, I also thought that it was a pinch too thick and would have preferred the A1 in the F1's thickness but....after using the A1 as my belt knife (daily usage on the farm as well as weekly ski\hiking trips and camping) for nearly a year I can honestly say I changed my mind on that. The thickness is perfect...wood splitting, feather sticks, filleting or skinning this knife rates an A...1 with me (it feather sticks and cuts meat noticeably better than the F1 - a longer draw and a more favorable geometery). Also I like the plastic sheath (strong, slimline and simple), the leather one I have as well but it made the setup too cumbersome for me so I dropped it, kydex doesn't work this far north and knives freeze into the sheaths too easily. The VG-10 holds an incredible edge as well and they are easy to re-sharpen (though I hear some folks are having difficulty with this task...honestly it's a no brainer, just pick up a DC4 diamond stone and sharpen like an axe (knife upside down and the stone doing to movement) and you're set very time). In my opinion, I wouldn't take the more thicker, costlier Pro series version of you were paying me the difference...this one is spot on as it is. *My second favorite blade (80CRV2 carbon steel) is the tough and cheap-as-chips Terävä Jääkäripuukko...this one can't be beat for quality versus price.
I like the sheath. I put a ranger band around the lever /tab and it holds the knife in without the strap. Yet, you can still pull it out. It doesn't rattle unless you are shaking it. I would only do that if I didn't have a shaker on hand and wanted to jam with a bad or something.
love it. I almost have hundred knives, this is by far my favorite knife ever for any kind of trip. My second is a bark river bravo1.5. But this A1 is the best for me.
I've taken my A1 to Peru twice on my Expeditions down there, it really worked well in the Amazon Jungle, and being a stainless steel blade it was very low maintenance. When I originally purchased it I wasn't very impressed, but it's grown on me alot, and now is my favorite knife that I own, so I bought another one in black for low profile when I walk around "en la calle de los pueblos en Peru." One day I was walking around Cusco looking for a Incan jail Archaeological site, when a full grown German Shepard charged at me, I pulled out my A1 and yelled at the top of my lungs ready to hack and stab, and the dog got scared and ran away 😂 Then there was the time with the Jaguar in Iquitos...🐆 Moral of the story: buy an A1 and be happy.
Btw, just got wiser... All The chopping you did, Ive done exactly same thing thats why I love it, cause of The weight and cuailtiy of The Steel. Got to mention though, that I do Not Have The biggest experinece of knives. But still moves my A1
Definitely check out the A1 Pro. I have both and where the regular A1 is a bit light for "heavier" chopping tasks, the Pro really chops well and the batonning capability is off the chart. Since most of us also carry a second blade for smaller finer tasks, like an F1, the A1 Pro is a really great option for primary wood processor.
Thanks for the review. I bought the S1 some time ago, based partly on your review. Great knife, awesome edge geometry. If the A1 is similar, it must be a great knife too. Thanks for doing what you do!
A1 is much better than ESEE6. i have both and the A1 skins better, chops better, batons better and has much better edge retention. the esee 6 was my fav untill i got a A1
the 6 will be a bit i suppose tougher in terms of indestructibleness but with the new fallkniven X series with the lam cos which is tougher than vg10 and the A1x and S1x both have quarter inch thick stock, they’re probably just about on par if not better. the convex grind is also generally better suited to hard use than a full flat, and will cut through wood and basically anything much smoother
Haven't tried it yet myself, but my understanding is that the A1 Pro is just as good a carver because of how they did the relief/grind geometry, and that the steel is more impressive ito of edge retention. I only use a knife that size for chopping/batoning - most bush-crafters/primitive skills practitioners (people doing fine work, for example, carving small, intricate trap parts, or decorative items, rather than just doing survival tasks and basic camp chores) would use a smaller knife for their carving (or dressing of game, especially small game), something in the 3.5" to 5" range. If they did choose a larger knife, because that is what they liked, like a French trade knife, for example, it would most likely be 1/8" to 5/32", so that it would still slice. For my system, a medium- to large-size knife only makes sense if it can essentially be my axe substitute - it is not my carver, but my batoner. The A1 Pro looks to fit the bill because the increased thickness seems to make it that much better at batoning wood, yet it is substantially more compact and lightweight than a hatchet or small axe. Given many people pair a heavy survival knife with a smaller belt knife, and that surviving in Sweden probably means processing a lot of firewood, I can see the rational for increasing the thickness of the stock. For a one-tool option, though, I think you have a point about a survival knife needing decent carving ability.
I bought my A1 in 1993, still have and love the knife. But I have heard that they are no longer Issue the A1 to the pilots of the Swedish Air Force, but the S1.
Thank you for the review, i just ordered one of these. I love my esee 6 but the mountains/weather where I live are very wet/humid and it begins to have rust spots after day trips.
I have the F1 and A1...GREAT KNIVES. The sheaths are ok for water environment. Bought a Patriot leather scout carry sheath for both. Keep up the great videos....
Excellent video. Great information that really helped with my decision. I was looking for a stainless steel equivalent to the ESEE 6. Thanks for putting in the time on this one.
I have both. IMO, the Fallkniven A1 is LEVELS above the ESEE 6. You just need to adjust to learning how to sharpen a large, convex edge. For me, sharpening an A1 in the field (once I practiced to do so) is much easier than something like the full flat grind ESEE 6 (and I still love my ESEE...although, it would be much better without the ridiculous finger choil).
In my opinion, Fallkniven also makes the best sharpeners. I use their C12 in my kitchenette, and DC4 on my other knives. I admit the CC4 on my EDC may be overkill, but it's sharp. (OCD? Maybe.)
I've used the Fallkniven A2 as my go to larger blade around camp for about 10 years now. Never let me down though I have encountered some very minor edge damage from batoning. Usually due to a knot.
Hello ! I also got Fallkniven A1 , but now I bought Benchmade arvensis ... The length and weight are almost identical, but Benchmade handle is more comfortable . I never thought it would be so good ... In certain things even better . as Fallkniven . This is just my opinion ! Nice video!
Thanks for the review! I have one, I carried it in Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008. It's quite a big knife, and it does draw some attention to itself, but the quality is awesome and I really like the way it handles!
Shiny finish is the best though unless you are a solider in a tactical situation. For survival a blade with a mirror finish can be used to signal for help ect.
Great review, you are always on my list of videos to watch when interested in gear to purchase. I have an A1 on order. Would be very interested in the comparison video with the Esee 6. Take care.
1. I have a couple of A1s and F1s. Sheath comments. F1 sheath with F1 knife inside fits comfortably into a Brooks Bros. suit pocket. 2. Aftermarket F1 sheath allows behind the back horizontal carry. 3. I don't live in an environment where you carry a 6 inch fixed blade knife on your person day after day or in person. If you don't like the A1 sheath, get a Spec-Ops sheath. 4. As the comments say, the A1 is virtually indestructible. My life experience is that 9/10 of the owners of knives don't have a clue as to maintenance or proper usage. If you fall into that category, this is a great knife to buy.
Survival lilly easily snapped off the tip of the A1 Falknieven with one hand. Then she demenstrated that her knife bends but doesn't break. She bent her tip with great difficulty then bent it back.. you snap off your tip while surviving and your screwed. I like the Apocalypse Russian knife. What a beauty.
hello Gideon, once again I followed your advice, like for my esee 6, my skrama, srk, tops desert nomade, fallkniven S1, and now this one, in my country it is quite suitable, thank you and continue your videos they are great, greetings from the Belgian Ardennes, and protect yourself above all ,,,Luigi
As always a well balanced review with facts thats count. I too have the A1 and it has never failed me in the field. With the addition of fallkniven's Pro series inclusive of the A1 using CoS steel they are one the very best all-round stainless steel survival knives on the planet based on facts and functionality alone. As far as athletics are concerned, i guess thats all down to personal prefernce and has little to do with intended use from my perspective. Great reviews and big thanks gideonstactical.
This reminds me of a Bark River Bravo series but in stainless. The Bravo series has a convex edge and has the slight swedge too. Looks pretty nifty, good review man.
I bought this knife used, I have filleted fish, skinned rabbits, and have done all kinds of bushcraft stuff in the bush and I have yet to sharpen it, I cant go back to my esse 6 after using this knife.
I would take the A1 over the ESEE 6 any time, even though ESEE 6 is a fantastic knife. I know both knives well. The only thing with Falkniven is, their sheaths are garbage. Hey Aaron, I REALLY like your custom ESEE 6 scales. Good video review brother!!!
wow a fallkniven will be my choice but Dear friend I lean to the a2 if I go there! I'd go there for the added length! more to save but then I think I be thrilled to have it! great videos and u help a great deal thanks for sharing high 5 thanx
I much prefer this over the Esee 6. The Esee 6 was a little lackluster to me because of the thickness. It didn't feel solid to me, kind of like a thin machete you just cut down. In a similar way I don't understand the thickness of the Esee 5 for the inverse reason. Why make a 5" bladed knife saber ground with 1/4" stock and make the bigger knife of the line ffg and 3/16. The thickness of the two should be swapped. Anyway, much prefer the A1/S1. I had an Esee 4 and s1 at the same time and the carving ability of the s1 way outperformed the Esee
i couldn't agree with you more on the a1! almost perfect in every regard except the blade thickness. i payed $170 shipped on ebay for the black coated version and i couldn't be happier with it.
I broke the tip on this knife off with light wood work. Sent it back to where I got it they said it was most likely was a "faulty" one during the hear treatment. Second one tip also broke. Will never waste my money on this knife again. That's just MY personal opinion... It might be a great knife for other people!
How can you design a zytel sheath to make it better, so that you will still able to pull your knife out of it even if there is sand and ice in it without scratching or damaging the blade?
+gideonstactical really been trying to get w hold of Peter from dark timber and spend the money of a custom knife and sheath system of his but no response :(
the black blades cothing on fällkniven knives is actually teflon and has teflon course its suppose to slide in to the meat easy and dont reflect the sun.
fallkniven a1 and esee 6, two different knives, but my 2 favorits, also difficult to make a choice!! even my steelwill darkangel or druid 200 , both very good, but i will not start talking about the fallkniven a2 or the Fox combat jungle, haha, very good review, like it a lot
Thanks for the review! I've always been a fan of Fallknives. Have you tried the Survive! Knives GSO 7/7 in CPM 20cv? I'd be curious to get your impressions of it and how it would compare to the A1. Granted the 7/7s are pretty hard to come by but it might make a good shoot out since they are pretty similar.
I don't understand why they call it High Carbon Steel, it's a myth that it has more Carbon than Stainless Steel sometimes even less. usually less than 1%. SS just has chromium added to the mix. That said i leave my expensive non Stainless Steel knives home most of the time as it's far less crap to carry a Stainless Steel, and far less maintenance.
You should do a video on best stainless steels and best affordable stainless steel knives. It’s kinda confusing sometimes with China stainless and low carbon and yada. It’s cool if you don’t.
I always knew this knife would blow you away when you finally get to review it one day. A little too heavy for me but I loved the length and laminated steel so got the SRK in san-mai iii instead + convexed the edge = knife heaven ;-)
+Tough Journeyman Thanks. Because the SRK has a hollow ground blade to begin with it wasn't easy to convex the edge particularly at the back where the grind is at it's lowest point. Ideally you want to keep the convex radius as long and flat as possible to obtain the sharpest edge but this becomes progressively more difficult towards the back of the blade. An ESEE 6 or any flat ground blade with more material at the relief edge would be easier to convex. At any rate it is well worth the effort and the best edge overall in my humble opinion. Sharpening is a breeze with a piece of leather and some medium grit stropping compound.
I think rather than bothering with their Pro series , I think it would have been better to offer fatter handles on their smaller knives as that is about the only weakness cited in most reviews. The small handle makes sense for gloved or smaller hands but too many people find them too small.
my silent hero has replaced my esse 6 but in stainless this knife looks too be a winner and worth commissioning a kydex sheath for!great review and really like the knives that you are reviewing! keep it up chief!!!
Cool vid, lots of info and real world testing! :) I kinda cringed when you start chopping. You did' t experience any damage getting stuck in like that? I had an A1 that went bust on me on its' second outing. Batonned through a 2 inch piece of pine and the bevel gave way over about half an inch... Heat treatment mighta been off. FK were cool about at, tho' and gave me a new one. The A1 will need to earn my trust again, but with so many satisfied customers and long running time, should be okay. I am curious to see how it will hold its' own in comparison to my new S1Pro. Should be an interesting showdown!
Interesting... I stumbled across one of those $15 Chinese F1 clones recently... and there's absolutely no rattle or play when the knife is in the sheath, and it actually snaps in pretty positively. Same as the real deals though, the button snaps can be a pain to manipulate, as it seems the nylon straps are a little too floppy. I might try hitting them with some oilcloth mix as that usually stiffens up everything else I have put it on. Anyhow, good job on the video, I'm a new subscriber and greetings from Ohio.
I see a used A1 for 140 bucks, but I can only judge the quality after 2 pictures... And I see a brand new Esee 6 for 160 bucks, that I even can go take a look at... WHICH SHALL I CHOOSE? :)
Great review as usual! I have this and the A1x which is a bit bigger. Haven't figured out yet which one I like better. Would love to see you review the A1x annnd the A1 pro. Thanks!!! Oh yea, agreed, the sheaths suck. Quickly went to custom kydex. Recently also added the A1pro which I like even better because of the A1 type handle. Going to sell the A1x.
Original A1 for me over the newer, more thicker versions. The A1 was already on the thicker side but pulled it off great. Anything thicker is silly, IMO and too heavy for the blade length. My A1 is probably my favorite knife but I always wish it was slightly thinner like the S1. I don't think it would affect performance that much at all, in fact, improve it.
love the fallkniven series i have an xl size hand so there handles run a bit small for me. Another option if you could ever actually get one in your hands is the survive gso 5.1 in cpm-20cv. Another option especially if you like a convex edge would be a bark river bravo 1,1.5, 2 series or aurora in elmax or cpm-s35vn.
Red Rhino makes some awesome sheaths for custom kydex, I have one for my BK-7. I'm curious how the A1 stacks up against one of those Steel Wills (I forget the particular models).
Scott Schneider they corrected the issues. Plus they have a lifetime warranty on the Pros. I have one, couldn’t be happier. Little pricey but it’s the ultimate outdoors knife.
Great review Aaron, I have an F1 and about 6 ESEE's. Love both companies but ESEE warranty and the fact that it's made in the US has me sold. What is the warranty on the Falknivens? Thanks Aaron.
If you're working your way up the line, I can't wait until you get to the NL1L, the Northern Lights Thor. I know, it's not a really practical everyday knife (unless you're Jim Bridger) but it's GORGEOUS and romantic back to my young days when I was reading about Bridger and playing that I was him.
One feature is awsome for in stainless steel. Food preparation. I hate this taste of iron comming from high carbon. That is why I always have on me my victorinox and Mora (Sandvik steel ) in my backpack.
Aaron, I have an ESEE6 and it's a pretty good knife however I don't think the handle is all that comfortable honestly. If I whittle for a while it starts to hurt in the hand because it's too blocky. I know knife connection makes some after market handle scales for the ESEE line of knives however now I'm spending a lot more than I want to on a knife. Plus I like just being able to buy a knife and go. I don't enjoy having to buy after market stuff for the knife when I truly believe that it should come perfect and ready to go straight from the factory. I wish I could find something I like that isn't ridiculously expensive.
If you need to baton, which most people don't need to. Use a small Hatchet like FX7 Fiskar $20. 1. mora companon and FX7; handle almost everything for surviving= $35 2. One tool option; Junglas or SXB=$160
***** the more you camp the more you realize all you need is a bushcraft knife and hatchet. everything else in terms of knives and axes your buying just to collect
I want Cold Steel or Fallkniven to do a stainless model like the SRK or the A1 with G10 or Micarta scales on the side in the same way that ESEE or many others do. At least Fallkniven gives an exposed pommel. Kray-Ex is comfortable but I would prefer the durability and even customization of the others with a full sized tang.
Look at the new benchmade large knife I don't remember the name, but 154cm, g-10 scales, plastic sheath, pommel, same size as the esee6. Looks awesome, and I hope to review it soon.
gideonstactical I see it on their site. Could be interesting. I hope they don't use a hollow grind on it. Hope it's a saber. $155 for full retail doesn't sound bad though. Maybe market price will be right around $100 and maybe some change. It will be called the Protagonist. Only a 4.5" blade though. Wish it would be around 6"
Aaron, could you explain why you like the A1 over the Boker Plus Vox Rold? The Boker is made out of D2, so almost rust resistant too, and even more built like an ESEE 6.
Good question, the vox rold is a great knife, but the D2 is a semi stainless and I have got rust on D2 plenty of times on the snow conditions that you see here on the video, and if I have to pick the vox or the A1 I like the a1 more. That is why so far it is my favorite true stainless steel knife in this range.
Thanks a lot! Never owned a D2 knive my own, was of the opinion that that steel would be practically almost stainless; One thing I like a little more on the Boker (or the Esee 6) over the A1 is that the Boker has handle scales just on the side of the tang (so the steel is visible at the top and bottom of the tang) while on the A1 the tang is enclosed in the handle material. That way the handle can get damaged a little easier I guess. Love your channel by the way and learned a lot while watching your vids! Greetings from Austria / Europe
+Wartstein 1 thanks so much! I agree with you an exposed tang is the way to go, and high carbon is also the way to go for survival knives whenever possible, but I known some people really want the stainless steel, so this is the best option I have seen and reviewed yet.
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Hey! Great video! But you should try European survival knife - TRC Apocalypse! That knife is outstanding...
Question: I've tried sharpening this blade using water stone and using sandpaper on a mousepad and also a leather strop. No matter what I do I can't seem to get this razor sharp (cut arm hairs or S-cuts through paper). I have a field sharpener that you recommended. Nothing seems to work. Any ideas?
Nice looking knife. Looks like you put it through some really good testing for all characteristics. Couldn't agree with you more on the sheath, don't like the look of that sheath and if your paying around $200 for a knife it better not rattle in the sheath. For that price though Ill stick with the Becnhmade Arvensis, but I would take this knife with me in the woods from what the video shows, great vid man keep em coming.
Cool Video 👍 Thank U for the links 👍 I know that this Video is old.. I bought the A1 pro know the A1 x came out and they say its full tang...??!! I realy feel lill ripped of by Fâlkniven cause they claimed that the A1 pro is full tang and know they say its not as full tang as the A1 x...😪 The A1 pro is a great knife anyway The sheet is realy bad cause after 3 month of useing it the sheet dont fix the knife anymore without the button strap ☹️
I would say the Darkangel is more like the S1 in size and weight and capabilities. They are both great companion blades, but the A1 is heavier, thicker, and longer, making for a better survival stand alone knife if need be. Hope that helps.
Definitely helped! I eventually went with the Darkangel, in part due to aesthetics and decreased weight, but mainly to aesthetics lol. I did like how the A1 made quick work of branches though, probably going to miss that.
fallkniven a1...for me the best knife ever made...i have several, also a2, a lot off other brands, but the a1 is the a1, simple , now i'm testing the pro series, the cos steel is awesome, but more expensive, the price off the a1 compared to others nothing with this quailty.!!!
I carried that knife during the 03' ground invasion of Iraq! My teammate and I both bought one from a
small town German knife shop about a week before we deployed. The guy made all kinds of claims of indestructability
and said that some special forces unit hammered a bunch into a concrete wall
and used them as a makeshift ladder. Never
tried to confirm the story but we did similar tests and it wasn’t bull shit!! We did everything possible to break that
knife! We used it as everything from a chisel
to a MRE opener. We even cut holes in metal folding chairs to make field
shitters. Hands down best knife I’ve
ever used!
Yes, your description is accurate. I was a knife dealer at the time of the First Gulf War.
You write this underneath each fuxkin video on YT
If you are ever in a survival situation do yourself a favor and refrain from chopping up logs. Just put one end of the long branch in the fire and feed it in as it burns. What a tremendous waste of calories and extra exposure to danger to hack away at a log with a knife. There is very little reason to use a knife for any type of wood processing. Just break up sticks by stepping on them etc. You only expose yourself to injury and risk damaging your blade when it is used for no reason. Just a pet peeve with the TH-cam "bushcraft" crowd. Thanks for the video.
Adam R there is a lot I wouldn't do in a survival situation but I have to show the toughness of blades
True enough and thanks for the video. The comment wasn't necessarily targeted at you personally, just the overall persistence of the idea of chopping firewood with a knife. Extremely common in the backyard survivalist crowd. (see PM101) Cheers!
This is all true with the exception of having to get to dry wood if the forest is soaked. Believe me, in northern Wisconsin this is an issue sometimes. I know birch bark makes great tinder even when wet but having good, dry sticks from even a small, thin log goes a long way for getting a fire started quickly. But ultimately you are correct. Chopping a log for tossing it into an already established fire is ridiculous.
That's how I do my fires. Just feeding it into the flames. I rarely chop huge pieces of wood. And I carry an axe and still choose to just push the log into thebfire
Well that depends on your weather conditions. What is "correct" in survival is hugely dependent on where you live and what season it is. Sometimes cutting a log and splitting it is the only way to get to dry wood and make a fire in the first place because there is no dry firewood on the ground to just pick up. Also depending on how remote the location is calories may be a non-issue. If I get lost in the woods or in the mountains I know that I will be able to get out or get rescued the next day no matter what. Czech Republic is very densely populated, I can just pick a direction and walk into a road before lunch in the worst possible case where I picked my direction poorly and put no intelligen thought into stuff like listening for cars, looking for smoke or light pollution at night etc. Calories are inconsequential in my case. No matter how lean you are you have tens of thousands of calories in fat storage, you will not run out in one night. Freezing to death during that first and only night is pretty much the only way I could die short of faling off a cliff. Now your circumstances might be different. If you live in America (especially the middle part) you could be days away from help. So obviously your concerns will be different. But the skills and tacticts you create to accomodate your circumstances are not universal.
I have the F1 and A1, I also thought that it was a pinch too thick and would have preferred the A1 in the F1's thickness but....after using the A1 as my belt knife (daily usage on the farm as well as weekly ski\hiking trips and camping) for nearly a year I can honestly say I changed my mind on that. The thickness is perfect...wood splitting, feather sticks, filleting or skinning this knife rates an A...1 with me (it feather sticks and cuts meat noticeably better than the F1 - a longer draw and a more favorable geometery). Also I like the plastic sheath (strong, slimline and simple), the leather one I have as well but it made the setup too cumbersome for me so I dropped it, kydex doesn't work this far north and knives freeze into the sheaths too easily. The VG-10 holds an incredible edge as well and they are easy to re-sharpen (though I hear some folks are having difficulty with this task...honestly it's a no brainer, just pick up a DC4 diamond stone and sharpen like an axe (knife upside down and the stone doing to movement) and you're set very time). In my opinion, I wouldn't take the more thicker, costlier Pro series version of you were paying me the difference...this one is spot on as it is.
*My second favorite blade (80CRV2 carbon steel) is the tough and cheap-as-chips Terävä Jääkäripuukko...this one can't be beat for quality versus price.
I like the sheath. I put a ranger band around the lever /tab and it holds the knife in without the strap. Yet, you can still pull it out. It doesn't rattle unless you are shaking it. I would only do that if I didn't have a shaker on hand and wanted to jam with a bad or something.
love it. I almost have hundred knives, this is by far my favorite knife ever for any kind of trip. My second is a bark river bravo1.5. But this A1 is the best for me.
Ahh my favorite knife. Done justice by your great review. Cheers dude!
Was going to share this vid with you but looks like you got there first! LOL. You've made a good purchase by the sounds of it!
I love all my knives but I keep reaching for the A1 most of the time. so perfect in every category.
For the type of tasks I need a knife for, Fallkniven is where my search started and stopped at. Fantastic knife is so many ways.
I've taken my A1 to Peru twice on my Expeditions down there, it really worked well in the Amazon Jungle, and being a stainless steel blade it was very low maintenance.
When I originally purchased it I wasn't very impressed, but it's grown on me alot, and now is my favorite knife that I own, so I bought another one in black for low profile when I walk around "en la calle de los pueblos en Peru." One day I was walking around Cusco looking for a Incan jail Archaeological site, when a full grown German Shepard charged at me, I pulled out my A1 and yelled at the top of my lungs ready to hack and stab, and the dog got scared and ran away 😂
Then there was the time with the Jaguar in Iquitos...🐆
Moral of the story: buy an A1 and be happy.
Bought in when I was in The swedish arrmy 2010,still use it to this day. Love it. Had SERE training with it, common use AND use it alot as a civilian.
Btw, just got wiser...
All The chopping you did, Ive done exactly same thing thats why I love it, cause of The weight and cuailtiy of The Steel.
Got to mention though, that I do Not Have The biggest experinece of knives.
But still moves my A1
Definitely check out the A1 Pro. I have both and where the regular A1 is a bit light for "heavier" chopping tasks, the Pro really chops well and the batonning capability is off the chart. Since most of us also carry a second blade for smaller finer tasks, like an F1, the A1 Pro is a really great option for primary wood processor.
Put a little band of bike inner tube around the retention clip much better fit way less rattling
Thanks for the review. I bought the S1 some time ago, based partly on your review. Great knife, awesome edge geometry. If the A1 is similar, it must be a great knife too. Thanks for doing what you do!
A1 is much better than ESEE6. i have both and the A1 skins better, chops better, batons better and has much better edge retention. the esee 6 was my fav untill i got a A1
I have the A1 and I feel the same as you do. A1 all the way!
the 6 will be a bit i suppose tougher in terms of indestructibleness but with the new fallkniven X series with the lam cos which is tougher than vg10 and the A1x and S1x both have quarter inch thick stock, they’re probably just about on par if not better. the convex grind is also generally better suited to hard use than a full flat, and will cut through wood and basically anything much smoother
Haven't tried it yet myself, but my understanding is that the A1 Pro is just as good a carver because of how they did the relief/grind geometry, and that the steel is more impressive ito of edge retention. I only use a knife that size for chopping/batoning - most bush-crafters/primitive skills practitioners (people doing fine work, for example, carving small, intricate trap parts, or decorative items, rather than just doing survival tasks and basic camp chores) would use a smaller knife for their carving (or dressing of game, especially small game), something in the 3.5" to 5" range. If they did choose a larger knife, because that is what they liked, like a French trade knife, for example, it would most likely be 1/8" to 5/32", so that it would still slice. For my system, a medium- to large-size knife only makes sense if it can essentially be my axe substitute - it is not my carver, but my batoner. The A1 Pro looks to fit the bill because the increased thickness seems to make it that much better at batoning wood, yet it is substantially more compact and lightweight than a hatchet or small axe. Given many people pair a heavy survival knife with a smaller belt knife, and that surviving in Sweden probably means processing a lot of firewood, I can see the rational for increasing the thickness of the stock. For a one-tool option, though, I think you have a point about a survival knife needing decent carving ability.
I love mine, have had it for a while now, and its still one a my faves.
"You could use it as a soldiers knife" uhm...it is a soldier knife.
Yes it is but you can also use it as a soilders knife.
its a "military survival knife"
I bought my A1 in 1993, still have and love the knife.
But I have heard that they are no longer Issue the A1 to the pilots of the Swedish Air Force, but the S1.
😂👍
Love the older Kydex Taco style sheath for this knife. I have had mine since about 2005. Sad to see they cheaped out on the newer sheaths.
Esse 6 and Fallkniven A1, Two of the best production made survival knives ever created IMHO.
A1 for sure... Esse6 always has bk7 breathing down it's neck though
RAT 5, does a job. And Fiskars X7. They like to work together.
Those are my exact babies. Leathersheath woth Dangler. Plus a belt cross sheath with Mora Garberg or 2000 depending the occasion.
I have the A1 and the Cold Steel Trail Master, and I really don't know which knife I prefer. They are both my favorite knifes.
Thank you for the review, i just ordered one of these. I love my esee 6 but the mountains/weather where I live are very wet/humid and it begins to have rust spots after day trips.
You will have a lot less trouble with this one.
I have the F1 and A1...GREAT KNIVES. The sheaths are ok for water environment. Bought a Patriot leather scout carry sheath for both. Keep up the great videos....
I disagree. The thickness is what helps this knife perform.
Very true.
The bear hath spoken
Yes thats why I have 6 mm stainless steel knife
Rrrright!
Excellent video. Great information that really helped with my decision. I was looking for a stainless steel equivalent to the ESEE 6. Thanks for putting in the time on this one.
I have both. IMO, the Fallkniven A1 is LEVELS above the ESEE 6. You just need to adjust to learning how to sharpen a large, convex edge. For me, sharpening an A1 in the field (once I practiced to do so) is much easier than something like the full flat grind ESEE 6 (and I still love my ESEE...although, it would be much better without the ridiculous finger choil).
In my opinion, Fallkniven also makes the best sharpeners. I use their C12 in my kitchenette, and DC4 on my other knives. I admit the CC4 on my EDC may be overkill, but it's sharp. (OCD? Maybe.)
I've used the Fallkniven A2 as my go to larger blade around camp for about 10 years now. Never let me down though I have encountered some very minor edge damage from batoning. Usually due to a knot.
good feed back.
Hello !
I also got Fallkniven A1 , but now I bought Benchmade arvensis ... The length and weight are almost identical, but Benchmade handle is more comfortable . I never thought it would be so good ... In certain things even better . as Fallkniven . This is just my opinion ! Nice video!
I plan on getting that one soon, look very promising.
It's a beauty! Size, proportions, shape.
Say Heah Aaron, Defenetly it's one of my Fav. Wet and snowy weather use knives, I luv the strength of the laminated blade and stain resistance.
Thanks for the review! I have one, I carried it in Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008. It's quite a big knife, and it does draw some attention to itself, but the quality is awesome and I really like the way it handles!
Yeah, but that shiny finish though, yikes! Esee 4, clip point, inverted on my LBV 👍
Shiny finish is the best though unless you are a solider in a tactical situation. For survival a blade with a mirror finish can be used to signal for help ect.
Great review, you are always on my list of videos to watch when interested in gear to purchase. I have an A1 on order. Would be very interested in the comparison video with the Esee 6. Take care.
1. I have a couple of A1s and F1s. Sheath comments. F1 sheath with F1 knife inside fits comfortably into a Brooks Bros. suit pocket.
2. Aftermarket F1 sheath allows behind the back horizontal carry.
3. I don't live in an environment where you carry a 6 inch fixed blade knife on your person day after day or in person. If you don't like the A1 sheath, get a Spec-Ops sheath.
4. As the comments say, the A1 is virtually indestructible. My life experience is that 9/10 of the owners of knives don't have a clue as to maintenance or proper usage. If you fall into that category, this is a great knife to buy.
Survival lilly easily snapped off the tip of the A1 Falknieven with one hand. Then she demenstrated that her knife bends but doesn't break. She bent her tip with great difficulty then bent it back.. you snap off your tip while surviving and your screwed. I like the Apocalypse Russian knife. What a beauty.
it was the S1 NOT the A1 !!! the A1 has a thicker tip
hello Gideon, once again I followed your advice, like for my esee 6, my skrama, srk, tops desert nomade, fallkniven S1, and now this one, in my country it is quite suitable, thank you and continue your videos they are great, greetings from the Belgian Ardennes, and protect yourself above all
,,,Luigi
Great to hear! Thank you for sharing!
Best knive reviewer.
Thanks bro!
Dude stellar video content, but that watch... You have my salute!
As always a well balanced review with facts thats count. I too have the A1 and it has never failed me in the field. With the addition of fallkniven's Pro series inclusive of the A1 using CoS steel they are one the very best all-round stainless steel survival knives on the planet based on facts and functionality alone. As far as athletics are concerned, i guess thats all down to personal prefernce and has little to do with intended use from my perspective. Great reviews and big thanks gideonstactical.
This reminds me of a Bark River Bravo series but in stainless. The Bravo series has a convex edge and has the slight swedge too. Looks pretty nifty, good review man.
They have the Pro range out which is 100%. Just bought the F1 Pro and what a knife it is. Getting the S1 Pro and A1 Pro next, the Bowie MB in time.
I bought this knife used, I have filleted fish, skinned rabbits, and have done all kinds of bushcraft stuff in the bush and I have yet to sharpen it, I cant go back to my esse 6 after using this knife.
I would take the A1 over the ESEE 6 any time, even though ESEE 6 is a fantastic knife. I know both knives well. The only thing with Falkniven is, their sheaths are garbage. Hey Aaron, I REALLY like your custom ESEE 6 scales. Good video review brother!!!
Thanks!
wow a fallkniven will be my choice but Dear friend I lean to the a2 if I go there! I'd go there for the added length! more to save but then I think I be thrilled to have it! great videos and u help a great deal thanks for sharing high 5 thanx
I much prefer this over the Esee 6. The Esee 6 was a little lackluster to me because of the thickness. It didn't feel solid to me, kind of like a thin machete you just cut down. In a similar way I don't understand the thickness of the Esee 5 for the inverse reason. Why make a 5" bladed knife saber ground with 1/4" stock and make the bigger knife of the line ffg and 3/16. The thickness of the two should be swapped. Anyway, much prefer the A1/S1. I had an Esee 4 and s1 at the same time and the carving ability of the s1 way outperformed the Esee
Hey man, thanks for the demonstration of the A1. Great knife!
For sure! Thanks for watching.
The Japanese blade is designed mainly for slicing not chopping. Get a proper parang (with a proper balance) for chopping though.
I'm buying one... and replacing the sheath immediately. :P
i couldn't agree with you more on the a1! almost perfect in every regard except the blade thickness.
i payed $170 shipped on ebay for the black coated version and i couldn't be happier with it.
Nice, great find.
I broke the tip on this knife off with light wood work. Sent it back to where I got it they said it was most likely was a "faulty" one during the hear treatment. Second one tip also broke. Will never waste my money on this knife again. That's just MY personal opinion... It might be a great knife for other people!
How can you design a zytel sheath to make it better, so that you will still able to pull your knife out of it even if there is sand and ice in it without scratching or damaging the blade?
I have an F1, very good steel. Thanks for video.
No problem!
+gideonstactical really been trying to get w hold of Peter from dark timber and spend the money of a custom knife and sheath system of his but no response :(
Beautiful knife, really like the design, it seemed to perform well for the tasks it was designed for. Excellent vid, beautiful location.
Thanks! Always appreciate your support and glad you enjoyed the video.
the black blades cothing on fällkniven knives is actually teflon and has teflon course its suppose to slide in to the meat easy and dont reflect the sun.
The A1 is an awesome, awesome outdoor knife...
fallkniven a1 and esee 6, two different knives, but my 2 favorits, also difficult to make a choice!! even my steelwill darkangel or druid 200 , both very good, but i will not start talking about the fallkniven a2 or the Fox combat jungle, haha, very good review, like it a lot
Thanks!
Thanks for the review! I've always been a fan of Fallknives. Have you tried the Survive! Knives GSO 7/7 in CPM 20cv? I'd be curious to get your impressions of it and how it would compare to the A1. Granted the 7/7s are pretty hard to come by but it might make a good shoot out since they are pretty similar.
I don't understand why they call it High Carbon Steel, it's a myth that it has more Carbon than Stainless Steel sometimes even less. usually less than 1%. SS just has chromium added to the mix. That said i leave my expensive non Stainless Steel knives home most of the time as it's far less crap to carry a Stainless Steel, and far less maintenance.
You should do a video on best stainless steels and best affordable stainless steel knives. It’s kinda confusing sometimes with China stainless and low carbon and yada. It’s cool if you don’t.
I always knew this knife would blow you away when you finally get to review it one day. A little too heavy for me but I loved the length and laminated steel so got the SRK in san-mai iii instead + convexed the edge = knife heaven ;-)
Do you have any videos or photos of the convexed Srk?
+Tough Journeyman Yes, here is the link and you can download the original files as well. www.flickr.com/photos/142207940@N07
+Clint Westwood Very neat. Thank you very much.
Was it easy to convex the edge on it?
+Tough Journeyman Thanks. Because the SRK has a hollow ground blade to begin with it wasn't easy to convex the edge particularly at the back where the grind is at it's lowest point. Ideally you want to keep the convex radius as long and flat as possible to obtain the sharpest edge but this becomes progressively more difficult towards the back of the blade. An ESEE 6 or any flat ground blade with more material at the relief edge would be easier to convex. At any rate it is well worth the effort and the best edge overall in my humble opinion. Sharpening is a breeze with a piece of leather and some medium grit stropping compound.
+Clint Westwood Wonderful detailed answer. Thanks a lot.
Thanks for the cool review Aaron!
I think rather than bothering with their Pro series , I think it would have been better to offer fatter handles on their smaller knives as that is about the only weakness cited in most reviews.
The small handle makes sense for gloved or smaller hands but too many people find them too small.
Great review hey what kind of boots are you wearing at the end? they look pretty awesome.
now this is a knife. I love it.
You won't be sorry with this one.
my silent hero has replaced my esse 6 but in stainless this knife looks too be a winner and worth commissioning a kydex sheath for!great review and really like the knives that you are reviewing! keep it up chief!!!
Thanks for watching!
Cool vid, lots of info and real world testing! :)
I kinda cringed when you start chopping. You did' t experience any damage getting stuck in like that? I had an A1 that went bust on me on its' second outing. Batonned through a 2 inch piece of pine and the bevel gave way over about half an inch... Heat treatment mighta been off. FK were cool about at, tho' and gave me a new one. The A1 will need to earn my trust again, but with so many satisfied customers and long running time, should be okay. I am curious to see how it will hold its' own in comparison to my new S1Pro. Should be an interesting showdown!
How do you think it will compare to the Mora Garberg which should be coming out soon? You may wish to do a comparison video.
Totally different sized knives. The Mora will be closer to the S1 in size.
Interesting... I stumbled across one of those $15 Chinese F1 clones recently... and there's absolutely no rattle or play when the knife is in the sheath, and it actually snaps in pretty positively. Same as the real deals though, the button snaps can be a pain to manipulate, as it seems the nylon straps are a little too floppy. I might try hitting them with some oilcloth mix as that usually stiffens up everything else I have put it on. Anyhow, good job on the video, I'm a new subscriber and greetings from Ohio.
I would not purchase and forget an ESEE. Once you use it and that powder coat starts to strip, it is a rust factory. I oil my 6HM regularly.
Awesome man! I love this knife as well. Thank you for the review though!
finally the review of the a1 good job Aaron
thanks for watching!
I see a used A1 for 140 bucks, but I can only judge the quality after 2 pictures... And I see a brand new Esee 6 for 160 bucks, that I even can go take a look at... WHICH SHALL I CHOOSE? :)
We are paying double in europe 😞
I got A1 and leather sheat, in my humble opinion, it's a great combo! \o/
Great review as usual! I have this and the A1x which is a bit bigger. Haven't figured out yet which one I like better. Would love to see you review the A1x annnd the A1 pro. Thanks!!! Oh yea, agreed, the sheaths suck. Quickly went to custom kydex. Recently also added the A1pro which I like even better because of the A1 type handle. Going to sell the A1x.
Original A1 for me over the newer, more thicker versions. The A1 was already on the thicker side but pulled it off great. Anything thicker is silly, IMO and too heavy for the blade length.
My A1 is probably my favorite knife but I always wish it was slightly thinner like the S1. I don't think it would affect performance that much at all, in fact, improve it.
love the fallkniven series i have an xl size hand so there handles run a bit small for me. Another option if you could ever actually get one in your hands is the survive gso 5.1 in cpm-20cv. Another option especially if you like a convex edge would be a bark river bravo 1,1.5, 2 series or aurora in elmax or cpm-s35vn.
Nice review. Definitely a good alternative survival knife for wet environments.
Red Rhino makes some awesome sheaths for custom kydex, I have one for my BK-7. I'm curious how the A1 stacks up against one of those Steel Wills (I forget the particular models).
You mean the steel will Druid?
So would you get the A1 or A1 pro? Would love to get the A1 pro but their were some issues with the handles.
Scott Schneider they corrected the issues. Plus they have a lifetime warranty on the Pros. I have one, couldn’t be happier. Little pricey but it’s the ultimate outdoors knife.
Great review Aaron, I have an F1 and about 6 ESEE's. Love both companies but ESEE warranty and the fact that it's made in the US has me sold. What is the warranty on the Falknivens? Thanks Aaron.
love the knife and as always you are one of the best reviewers PERIOD
Thanks bro, and I as always you are one of the best knife makers Period!
Very nice stainless steel knife and very well reviewed.
If you're working your way up the line, I can't wait until you get to the NL1L, the Northern Lights Thor. I know, it's not a really practical everyday knife (unless you're Jim Bridger) but it's GORGEOUS and romantic back to my young days when I was reading about Bridger and playing that I was him.
One feature is awsome for in stainless steel. Food preparation. I hate this taste of iron comming from high carbon. That is why I always have on me my victorinox and Mora (Sandvik steel ) in my backpack.
Love your reviews. Very informative.
Aaron, I have an ESEE6 and it's a pretty good knife however I don't think the handle is all that comfortable honestly. If I whittle for a while it starts to hurt in the hand because it's too blocky. I know knife connection makes some after market handle scales for the ESEE line of knives however now I'm spending a lot more than I want to on a knife. Plus I like just being able to buy a knife and go. I don't enjoy having to buy after market stuff for the knife when I truly believe that it should come perfect and ready to go straight from the factory. I wish I could find something I like that isn't ridiculously expensive.
Buy a mora black
I'm hesitant about batoning with Mora knives. I'd prefer something full tang.
If you need to baton, which most people don't need to. Use a small Hatchet like FX7 Fiskar $20.
1. mora companon and FX7; handle almost everything for surviving= $35
2. One tool option; Junglas or SXB=$160
***** the more you camp the more you realize all you need is a bushcraft knife and hatchet. everything else in terms of knives and axes your buying just to collect
***** ill trade you my TOPS BOB for you ESEE 6 ?
I want Cold Steel or Fallkniven to do a stainless model like the SRK or the A1 with G10 or Micarta scales on the side in the same way that ESEE or many others do. At least Fallkniven gives an exposed pommel. Kray-Ex is comfortable but I would prefer the durability and even customization of the others with a full sized tang.
Look at the new benchmade large knife I don't remember the name, but 154cm, g-10 scales, plastic sheath, pommel, same size as the esee6. Looks awesome, and I hope to review it soon.
gideonstactical I see it on their site. Could be interesting. I hope they don't use a hollow grind on it. Hope it's a saber. $155 for full retail doesn't sound bad though. Maybe market price will be right around $100 and maybe some change. It will be called the Protagonist. Only a 4.5" blade though. Wish it would be around 6"
Nice blade,might have to check it out.Good thorough review
Thanks!
Ah a fellow Gideon!
Aaron, could you explain why you like the A1 over the Boker Plus Vox Rold? The Boker is made out of D2, so almost rust resistant too, and even more built like an ESEE 6.
Good question, the vox rold is a great knife, but the D2 is a semi stainless and I have got rust on D2 plenty of times on the snow conditions that you see here on the video, and if I have to pick the vox or the A1 I like the a1 more. That is why so far it is my favorite true stainless steel knife in this range.
Thanks a lot! Never owned a D2 knive my own, was of the opinion that that steel would be practically almost stainless;
One thing I like a little more on the Boker (or the Esee 6) over the A1 is that the Boker has handle scales just on the side of the tang (so the steel is visible at the top and bottom of the tang) while on the A1 the tang is enclosed in the handle material. That way the handle can get damaged a little easier I guess.
Love your channel by the way and learned a lot while watching your vids! Greetings from Austria / Europe
+Wartstein 1 thanks so much! I agree with you an exposed tang is the way to go, and high carbon is also the way to go for survival knives whenever possible, but I known some people really want the stainless steel, so this is the best option I have seen and reviewed yet.
Hey! Great video! But you should try European survival knife - TRC Apocalypse! That knife is outstanding...
have a pretty similar,the one from your last vid,but no black blade!
Great work on video mate greetings from spain
does it rust at all? I know the outside and core metals are different. Would it work out in a rainforest/jungle environment?
Hi Aaron again
How about the BRADFORD GUARDIAN 6 in M390 ? That's a monster and it's always available.
Question: I've tried sharpening this blade using water stone and using sandpaper on a mousepad and also a leather strop. No matter what I do I can't seem to get this razor sharp (cut arm hairs or S-cuts through paper). I have a field sharpener that you recommended. Nothing seems to work. Any ideas?
Nice looking knife. Looks like you put it through some really good testing for all characteristics. Couldn't agree with you more on the sheath, don't like the look of that sheath and if your paying around $200 for a knife it better not rattle in the sheath. For that price though Ill stick with the Becnhmade Arvensis, but I would take this knife with me in the woods from what the video shows, great vid man keep em coming.
Thanks, I want to try that Benchmade ASAP!
Cool Video 👍
Thank U for the links 👍
I know that this Video is old..
I bought the A1 pro know the A1 x came out and they say its full tang...??!!
I realy feel lill ripped of by Fâlkniven cause they claimed that the A1 pro is full tang and know they say its not as full tang as the A1 x...😪
The A1 pro is a great knife anyway
The sheet is realy bad cause after 3 month of useing it the sheet dont fix the knife anymore without the button strap ☹️
both are full tang, the x ist just not enclosed
Hi i have F1 and A1 to me both amazing knives cor my outdoor activity
I always see your videos on TH-cam
Ciao from Italia Luca
Thx for watching!
You don t need more luca
Did you have chipping problems with the VG-10 ?
Awesome review! Man... between this and that Darkangel you just reviewed, I'm torn.
I would say the Darkangel is more like the S1 in size and weight and capabilities. They are both great companion blades, but the A1 is heavier, thicker, and longer, making for a better survival stand alone knife if need be. Hope that helps.
Definitely helped! I eventually went with the Darkangel, in part due to aesthetics and decreased weight, but mainly to aesthetics lol. I did like how the A1 made quick work of branches though, probably going to miss that.
Hi GT.
For a fixed blade larger woodsman knife, with a scandi grind, which if any would you prefer?
Very nice review. I have been checking out your site for some time. I'll come back with some thoughts.
fallkniven a1...for me the best knife ever made...i have several, also a2, a lot off other brands, but the a1 is the a1, simple , now i'm testing the pro series, the cos steel is awesome, but more expensive, the price off the a1 compared to others nothing with this quailty.!!!