Thoughts on Swing Bladed Knives , Eka etc ..

[Roebuck-308]

Hi All, Ive used all sorts of knives in the past, everything from Fixed bladed frost moras to lock bladed knives, i was watching a video of a chap using a swing bladed knife , not come across one of these before, it did a very neat job of unzipping the abdominal cavity , is it a gimmick , what are they like to sharpen ? is it one of those knives that you use once and put in a draw ! i did a search on the forum and there are a few thoughts out there, any one use and have this kind of knife in there kit and use it regularly ! Would be great to hear your thoughts .

 

[BiltongBill]

Picked up one a couple of months ago and found it to be good quality and easy to use. The blade is one piece, which I think makes it solid when gralloching.

 

[Acm]

I found it a complete pain the rear to sharpen , a nice idea , but in practice I didn't like it much . And the knives not big enough in my opinion . Also a pain to clean .
Very well made though! I got a helle fixed blade instead. And after 2 deer got the hang of using a proper knife just fine .

 

[Fabnosh]

Hi CB

I used a a fixed blade knife for years and learned how to cover the tip to unzip the gut and all the other little knife craft tricks one picks up through experience and then I went out with a friend who was using an Eka swingblade - very impressed indeed. I used it on the next beast we dropped and I must say that it was fast, efficient and safe. It's good to go into the dishwasher as well so all the comments about cleaning seem to melt away. It holds an edge and with a sharpening rod the gut opener is easily sharpened. Perhaps the only disadvantage is the length of a the blade for bleeding the larger species but given that most things in life are a compromise in one form or another, it is a small one to make.

Hope that helps

FN

 

[pilgrimmick]

Are these fixed blades in the eyes of the law? ie regarded as a lock knife or sheath knife.

 

[Glendine]

Are these fixed blades in the eyes of the law? ie regarded as a lock knife or sheath knife.

Why do you ask? If you are out stalking you have a purpose to be in possession then isn't that enough

 

[Roebuck-308]

Thanks chaps , I'll do a quick search but does anyone know what Sandvik 12C27 steel is , assuming stainless / surgical steel grade !?

 

[bazil]

Hi I've been using one for the last year bloody fantastic but as someone has said it's a bit of a tit to sharpen, I nearly cried when I had to grind it with a Dremil but now I keep on top of the sharpening it's spot on bazil

 

[pilgrimmick]

Why do you ask? If you are out stalking you have a purpose to be in possession then isn't that enough

It is the fact that the grey area of travel to and from, or working off the farm carrying a knife. I normally carry a sheath knife or a locking blade, but have to be aware when leaving the estate.
​

 

[Shropshire Lad]

It has the same status as a lock knife. You need a reasonable excuse to have one with you.

 

[Monarch Country Products]

Hi CB

Swingblades are easy to sharpen with a DMT kit with a diamond rod, however these kits are nearly the same cost as the knife it self.

12C27 is used by EKA & AUS-8 is used by Outdoor Edge, both are excellent grades of stainless steel with no difference in ease of sharpening or edge retention.

regards

Rob

 

[Grant.N]

I do not own a swing blade, but for me the blade profile is wrong.
too much belly on it.

 

[Roebuck-308]

Hi CB

Swingblades are easy to sharpen with a DMT kit with a diamond rod, however these kits are nearly the same cost as the knife it self.

12C27 is used by EKA & AUS-8 is used by Outdoor Edge, both are excellent grades of stainless steel with no difference in ease of sharpening or edge retention.

regards

Rob

Thanks for the Info here, i think im going to give one a go, there are a reasonable price !

 

[prometheus]

If we all wanted the same knife, well it would be boring wouldn't it just like if we all had the same rifles with similar cals - if we did this site would be a very boring place.

that said I keep an Orange EKA on my belt. The only thing I find poor about them is the sheath that comes with it, they don't last. I bought a heavy duty replacement leather job from Dougster on here, now I have no more problems.

 

[Roebuck-308]

If we all wanted the same knife, well it would be boring wouldn't it just like if we all had the same rifles with similar cals - if we did this site would be a very boring place.

that said I keep an Orange EKA on my belt. The only thing I find poor about them is the sheath that comes with it, they don't last. I bought a heavy duty replacement leather job from Dougster on here, now I have no more problems.

Here here prometheus ! At the risk of sounding stupid (no change there then !) im guessing that the orange is popular due to visibility - ie: putting down a green knife in the field ! ? Its not that different models are different colours !?

 

[prometheus]

Here here prometheus ! At the risk of sounding stupid (no change there then !) im guessing that the orange is popular due to visibility - ie: putting down a green knife in the field ! ? Its not that different models are different colours !?

I know of Black ( my first and lost) and orange in the swing blade. They also do a single blade tripe knife ( just the gut blade) in blue, well that's the only colour I've seen anyway.

 

[agent]

good knife let down by a very poor sheath imo

 

[Roebuck-308]

I know of Black ( my first and lost) and orange in the swing blade. They also do a single blade tripe knife ( just the gut blade) in blue, well that's the only colour I've seen anyway.

Thought so, thanks for clearing that one up

 

[Richard Parsons]

I sharpen mine by running it through a small blade tech gadget. Does the unzipper blade easily and comes out sharp as a razor.

 

[User00035]

Not impressed with mine. Once the novelty wore off I stopped using it. I can't be bothered to swing the blade round just to unzip. I also found it hard to clean. You think its spotless but blood leeches from the pivot point for ever more, and yes, the blade profile is wrong. Its basically a clip point. A drop point or even a spear point is far better for gralloching IMO.
I can't say that its good steel. The edge retension is awful. The Boker I use now is vastly superior. The tripe blade is useful for skinning and I wouldn't mind a decent belt-mounted field/larder set which includes one. But the only set I can find is that fits the bill is EKA and I'm not buying any more of those chocolate blades.