HK Feint Fastened Blade Knife Benchmade Assessment

In earlier articles, we mentioned selecting a set blade survival knife:

Half 1

Half 2

Half 3

A knife is without doubt one of the extra vital items of apparatus you may have with you in a survival scenario.

As such, a very good, survival applicable, mounted blade knife is your best option for inclusion in a survival package or BOB (Bug Out Bag) or equal, and/or to be strapped on when an emergency is probably going. On this article, we’ll think about a contender for “Greatest Survival Knife”.

As talked about within the basic articles, there are two courses of mounted blade knife which will be applicable for survival situations, the “bush” (medium) knife and the “area” (giant) knife. This knife belongs to the area class.

Why did I think about the Benchmade HK Feint?

 I’ve all the time been a fan of Benchmade pocket knives since their begin in 1988 with the Bali-song (butterfly knife).

From that humble starting, they’ve grown into one of many premier knife firms, and right this moment, they make a few one of the best survival pocket knives I’ve discovered primarily based on their Griptilian mannequin. So I used to be completely happy they’ve some mounted blade fashions which look promising.

After all, these knives are likely to normally be out of my value vary. On occasion a very good deal pops up, and this time it was a Feint. This mannequin is from their HK line.

That is proper, HK, or Heckler & Koch, the famed firearm makers. Are these made for HK? I believe not, since there isn’t any point out of them on the HK web site.

However these knives do use the HK emblem, so presumably, Benchmade purchased the rights or have been commissioned to take action for advertising functions.

Along with a lifetime guarantee, typical of many high quality knife firms, Benchmade affords the “LifeSharp” service, the place they may resharpen your knife to manufacturing facility razor sharpness any time you need.

Though solely ship a knife to Benchmade for those who obtained it from a licensed supplier, as they will confiscate or destroy any knives decided to be “counterfeit”, with out reimbursing you.

Though USA manufacture will not be claimed on the knife or web page, Benchmade assures me these are made of their Oregon plant.

The specs

Particular Options:  Black blade coating

Preliminary impressions

 That is the primary alternative I’ve needed to evaluate a area knife. There are extra bush knife fashions accessible, they usually are typically simpler to seek out (and cheaper). This one is a little bit of a disappointment.

The knife appears nice, however the sheath could be very primary for the value vary; it could show enough, however is lacking some options I’ve grow to be accustomed to.

As I stated, the knife is sort of respectable. The grip is snug, and really slip resistant with the hand dry, moist or oily. The steadiness is about 1 1/2″ in entrance of the guard, which takes a little bit of getting used to, and makes the knife really feel a bit clumsy.

Nevertheless it ought to assist with chopping, one of many key duties for a area class knife. The grip is a tad quick to be totally snug within the saber grip; folks with smaller arms shouldn’t have even this minor discomfort.

It’s snug and safe in all different grips; sideways is especially good with a little bit of hook on the pommel to twist the little finger round. It does have the generally discovered finger choil with the sting working proper into it.

Often I gripe about this, however on this case, I will not. Initially, you do not choke up on a area knife that always for those who even have a area knife or good pocket knife.

And secondly, and extra importantly, this choil is deeper than any I’ve seen earlier than, which implies there’s a hole between your finger and the tip of the sting.

It would nonetheless require some care to keep away from reducing your self when choking up, however relatively lower than with the opposite finger choils I’ve tried to this point. There isn’t a jimping, however with this grip materials and design, that isn’t actually obligatory.

The perimeters of the backbone are pretty sharp, however have a easy coating, so it’s questionable how helpful it is going to be.

The lanyard gap is large enough to simply accept a size of paracord by means of it. The perimeters of the lanyard gap are usually not rounded, however they’re by means of the comfortable Santoprene, so lanyard put on shouldn’t be an issue. .

The blade coating is easy, so shouldn’t have any affect on reducing capabilities, and doesn’t mirror mild.

The sheath seems to offer enough retention.

The knife seems prefer it could possibly be a good selection for survival; the sheath might have modification or substitute.

The Metal

That is manufactured from 440C, a excessive grade chrome steel which has been round for some time. It was once a best choice for prime finish stainless knives, however has been eclipsed by ATS-34 and 154-CM. Nonetheless, it’s a good selection, notably for mid grade knives as it’s simpler to work with then these newer steels.

Having the best quantity of carbon within the 440 line, it’s the least rust resistant, however that’s nonetheless fairly good. It’s powerful and holds the sting properly, however attributable to its bigger, much less uniform microstructure, doesn’t exhibit the additional sharpness and chip resistance of the newer steels.

The knife got here sharp sufficient to simply slice paper, which is normally enough for a area knife. After 50 slices by means of cardboard, it didn’t lose any sharpness. My Pocket Pal didn’t enhance the sharpness any however a couple of strokes of my outdated Brass Rat did enhance the sharpness.

To summarize, it seems that the metal has good rust resistance, reasonably excessive power, good edge functionality, honest or higher ease of sharpening, reasonable resistance to chipping and good edge holding functionality.

Analysis

Basic duties

• Chopping wire – That is usually obligatory throughout building of shelter, fishing, stitching and making snares and traps, in addition to different instances. Since this isn’t a serious activity for a area knife, I solely tried the hardest I’ve readily available, 3/4″ Sisal. The knife had a bit bother getting by means of it, about common. I’d say it handed this check.
• Making notches in branches – This could possibly be required for shelter building and making snares or traps, in addition to different instances. The knife was fairly good at this, each the principle cuts and the cease reduce, utilizing the portion of the blade near the grip for management. On this mode, the steadiness was not a distraction.

• Trimming/Sharpening/smoothing branches – This is able to be for shelter building, in addition to making arrows, spears, stakes, strolling sticks and even bows. The knife did a very good job of this.
• Pounding in stakes – This could possibly be required for making shelters, snares and traps. This knife will not be set as much as carry out this perform.

Firemaking

• Use with a magnesium bar or ferrocerium rod is pretty viable utilizing the sting of the backbone; it shaves and sparks properly. It does appear to mark up the sting of the backbone used.
• Making a “featherstick” with this knife is a little bit of a problem. Delicate woods work properly, however with laborious woods, it tends to go “too far”. A number of curls, simply not nonetheless hooked up to the feather stick.
• Drilling a gap (for a hearth drill) was pretty simple, though the consequence was a smaller and fewer easy gap than earlier knives. The tip is a bit skinny and is chrome steel, so attempt to keep away from excessive stress on the tip.

• Batoning for entry to tinder or making kindling from logs labored very properly. There have been vital marks within the blade coating after this check; some scrubbing toned them down significantly, however there have been nonetheless marks seen.

Meals Gathering/Preparation

• Not likely applicable duties for a area knife, so I did not trouble testing it. It’s not balanced for these duties, so together with the blade size could also be inconvenient for these duties. Nonetheless, the tip and blade form might make it potential to make use of it for these functions if obligatory.

Chopping

• Sticks or fronds – For shelter and different building, splints and firewood. That is the most important activity for a area knife, and this did pretty properly. Not in addition to one with an enormous stomach, however fully enough, whereas sustaining a “regular” blade form.

Protection  

• The grip and level are pretty good for fight, and the blade size makes this a fearsome weapon to face. The steadiness makes it a bit clumsy to make use of, at the very least till you observe with it sufficient to get used to it, and it does lend energy to chops and slices. It’s not fairly as agile as a shorter blade, however does have extra attain. This could possibly be a bonus defending in opposition to a harmful animal, however could also be a bonus or drawback defending in opposition to somebody armed with a shorter, extra agile, blade. There’s, after all, little safety out of your opponents blade, however it’s higher at stopping your hand from sliding onto your personal blade than many knives of this design. I’d say this knife may truly do reasonably properly as a survival degree “fight” knife.

Sheath

The sheath, as talked about, is sort of primary; it can do the job and that’s about all that may be stated for it. It seems to be manufactured from a stiffened nylon or comparable material.

The belt loop is sewn in; not as stiff as I would really like, however maybe enough. Retention is by way of a snap-closed grip strap, which works properly. The liner appears to be thick sufficient and held in place properly.

It’s not fitted to the blade, so there’s vital rattle, even with the grip strap mounted. It would slot in backwards for a left handed carry, however there’s a “catch” when inserting it this manner, which means that the blade could also be rubbing on one thing, which could ultimately affect the sheath or the blade edge.

The sheath is lengthy, and the belt loop not the stiffest, so evidently sheath flop could also be an issue. However there isn’t any gap or holes on the backside for a leg tie and there are not any different attachment choices supplied.

Equipment

There don’t look like any equipment accessible, which is unlucky, as a customized sheath appears to be fascinating. Maybe a customized sheath maker could possibly be talked into making one. Or if in case you have the talents, make your personal from Kydex or leather-based.

Worth and Availability

The listing value of the Feint at this time limit is $135.00. You possibly can normally discover them new on eBay for $95 and up.

Firm web site

It’s listed as being in inventory on the firm, and there are a couple of folks promoting it on eBay. Amazon has a couple of of them left within the decrease a part of the eBay value vary, and it’s on the Prime program, however tax shall be added.

Conclusions

I am involved in regards to the brittleness of chrome steel utilized in a nice edged chopping instrument like a area knife. I personally would like a very good carbon metal except I anticipated to be close to salt water.

Nevertheless, ignoring that bias and primarily based on check outcomes, this knife did pretty properly on the major activity, chopping, and completely adequately at every part else I requested of it.

There was no proof of harm to the sting from the testing. Because the blade form is commonplace, you may have the ability to use this for duties requiring the tip, reminiscent of skinning, though it could be clumsier than you might be used to when utilizing a shorter blade.

It has utility for protection in opposition to animals and at the very least some people. All in all, you may have the ability to get by with this as your solely knife, however a bush knife or good pocket knife together with this could be far superior.

The sheath is an issue. It would have the ability to be modified to scale back the rattle and sheath flop, but when I used to be going to depend upon this knife for survival, I’d see about making a greater sheath or having one made.

Though I do not suppose I am going to make this one in all my major survival knives, I do plan to maintain it; it fills a selected area of interest. The sheath matches completely within the “ruler” pocket on the leg of my overalls, so this goes in there after I exit into the alley to take the rubbish out at night time.

We reside on the fringe of city, and there’s vital wild and semi-wild life within the space; this protects me having to dig out a belt in an effort to have one thing higher than a pocket knife on me.

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