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Msg Kim Breed (ret.)

Spycraft Knives SK-4 Sentinel Review: Covert Ringer

Msg Kim Breed (ret.)
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Spycraft Knives SK-4 Sentinel Review: Covert Ringer

Spycraft Knives’ wharncliffe gives you an undercover edge.

Spycraft Knives is a new player in the game and offers some cloak-and-dagger in its design. As the company’s name suggests, its SK-4 Sentinel is designed with input from ex-SpecOps personnel and is designed for carry on your person or gear.

It’s a ringed knife with a handle shape that feels good in the hand and feels heavy in the hand. Its wharncliffe-shaped blade is a great all-around style, and the angled false edge slims the tip a little. It’s definitely a stout knife, but above all, it must cut. So, let’s run it through the basics.

Light-Duty Testing

Cardboard did curl, but the author didn’t chalk that up to issues with the knife’s hollow grind. Instead, it was more a factor of the knife’s thickness binding on cuts through the stiffer material.
Cardboard did curl, but the author didn’t chalk that up to issues with the knife’s hollow grind. Instead, it was more a factor of the knife’s thickness binding on cuts through the stiffer material.

Up first I tested the edge out of the box with paper slices. The SK-4 sliced fairly quickly with its factory edge and produced a clean cut on all but one attempt. I had a tear, but I put that on operator error as I caught the sharpening notch. Overall, the edge seems to have a medium grit finish designed for heavier work.

I moved on to single-walled cardboard with the Sentinel producing nice, clean cuts with plenty of curling. This was thanks to the knife’s hollow grind in its thick blade steel. It’s possible to get a bit of binding in certain materials with the blade, but it’s possible to push through it. Here, the edge was aggressive, and I had to make sure to keep my fingers clear and had a few close calls with shaving skin.

Through leather, the Sentinel was particularly aggressive, the author reports. Both cutting and skiving the hide were audible. Skiving was especially impressive, with the knife producing thin, uniform slices.
Through leather, the Sentinel was particularly aggressive, the author reports. Both cutting and skiving the hide were audible. Skiving was especially impressive, with the knife producing thin, uniform slices.

On to 8-ounce leather, the SK-4 was really aggressive. Slicing, I got a crunching sound with every cut and found the thumb notch helped keep the cuts evenly spaced. When I switched to skiving, the knife was still talking to me with every cut. Honestly, I didn’t feel any resistance when I was attacking the leather.

Heavy-Duty Testing

The knife had some nice attributes when challenging tougher materials, such as this pine. The author was able to exert more force when creating curly cues thanks to a smartly placed thumb notch on the spine.
The knife had some nice attributes when challenging tougher materials, such as this pine. The author was able to exert more force when creating curly cues thanks to a smartly placed thumb notch on the spine.

Pinewood was the SK-4’s next task and some whittling. I had to use a steeper angle because of the grind, but the knife produced very uniform curly cues for a fire stick. The contoured handles gave me plenty of control while making the longest cuts and thickest curly cues.

 I batoned the SK-4 into seasoned Hackberry wood. The first hit buried the blade, then I banged on the tip till the wood split. I tried holding the knife by the ring to give my hand room once the tip was buried. It worked, but I felt a lot of shock in my hand. Once the larger chunk of Hackberry was split, the SK-4 quickly split the thinner pieces. I found no noticeable damage to the edge, though it had a few wood smears to oil out.

The SK-4 was up to the tasks of splitting seasoned hackberry, however, it did leave the author with a sore hand when he tried to hold on to the ring while batoning.
The SK-4 was up to the tasks of splitting seasoned hackberry, however, it did leave the author with a sore hand when he tried to hold on to the ring while batoning.

Time for my favorite medium, sisal rope. The SK-4 crunched its way to 146 cuts before the edge started to slide. Nicely done. What was especially nice was that I found no hot spots on my hand from the handle. Overall, the wharncliffe blade aggressively zipped through the rope.

Overall Take

The SK-4 is a lot of knife in a smaller package. It has good edge retention with a comfortable handle. I am not a big fan of ringed knives, and I would like thinner steel used to keep weight down.

SK-4 Sentinel Specs
Maker: Spycraft Knives
Steel: K340 tool
Grind: Hollow
Overall Length: 9”
Blade Length: 4.09”
Weight: 7.26 ounces
Finish: PVD
Blade style: Wharncliffe
Handles: Textured G10
MSRP: $399

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Aaron Wilburn’s BodyGuard Review: Cutting At Another Level

Msg Kim Breed (ret.)
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Aaron Wilburn’s BodyGuard Review: Cutting At Another Level

Aaron Wilburn’s BodyGuard pushes the performance bounds of a hard-work knife.

ABS master smith Aaron Wilburn produces spot-on precision works of art. His mosaic damascus is gorgeous, yet he still likes to make hard-working blades. The BodyGuard is one of the latter. It’s no frills, just tuned 52100 steel and textured non-slip Micarta handles.

A lot of knowledge is poured into these heavy-duty knives. It’s a little on the larger side for an EDC, but once in your hand, it’s very hard to use anything else. I’m all about the feel of a knife in your hand and the sharpness of its blade. Aaron’s BodyGuard is spot on in both fields. So, let’s get to cutting with the BodyGuard.

Skiving 8-ounce leather, the author found the slight curve to the belly of the knife let him roll rapidly into each thin slice.
Skiving 8-ounce leather, the author found the slight curve to the belly of the knife let him roll rapidly into each thin slice.

To start, I executed a simple slice of paper to check the fresh edge. The BodyGuard sheared smoothly and quickly, with the edge showing itself on the aggressive side, meaning you could hear each slice. I had to move fast with my fingers so no nicks would occur. The knife’s balance felt correct while cutting.

Next, I was on to some single-walled cardboard. The BodyGuard was slicing so fast and so sharply that none of the cuts distorted the cardboard. This is due to its full flat grind. The Cerekote coating helped, as well, reducing drag. Once more, the edge was notably audible and forceful through the material.

The BodyGuard’s plunge lines were spot on, uniform in depth and angle. This is always a sure sign of a well-made knife.
The BodyGuard’s plunge lines were spot on, uniform in depth and angle. This is always a sure sign of a well-made knife.

I pulled some scrap 8-ounce leather to skive. The BodyGuard made quick work of it. The slight curve to the belly of the knife let me roll rapidly into each thin slice. It was a fast enough pace that I managed to put a nick in my fingernail. The textured canvas handles proved very grippy and had a comfortable feeling. With the leather on its edge, I made more cuts, happily segmenting it without removing any of my flesh. Each cut gave me a nice crunching sound. Very sharp edge.

Laying The Wood

Using a leftover piece of pine, I did some whittling for a firestick. I ended up with thin curlicues and thick curlicue. All cuts were smooth, like they were from a carving tool. Its handle provided a positive grip on this more challenging medium and ensured smooth cuts. The finish took some wood smears, as expected, but the edge was still like a razor.

The BodyGuard was no hack in testing its edge against whitetail deer antler. The author littered his shop with antler fragments, however, the knife’s edge remained pristine.
The BodyGuard was no hack in testing its edge against whitetail deer antler. The author littered his shop with antler fragments, however, the knife’s edge remained pristine.

Subsequently, I gave the BodyGuard a beating or I should say a batoning. Using a piece of seasoned hackberry, I batoned the blade into it to split some kindling. I found the false edge was ground almost too sharply; it wanted to stick into the baton piece of wood on the first two whacks. No issues after that with the BodyGuard making short work of the chunk of hackberry. I did notice the ends of the handles were a little sharp on the inside of my palm during this exercise. A few wipes of 400-grit sandpaper removed the edge. Again, more wood smears on the Cerakote, but the coating was 100 percent attached. Excellent job.

After some hard material, I tested the knife’s edge retention on 1/2-inch sisal rope. Man, does the BodyGuard cut, crunching through 200 cuts of the rope in record time. The edge felt like it was getting sharper with every slash. Even after all that, the knife remained extremely sharp.

The BodyGuard was no hack in testing its edge against whitetail deer antler. The author littered his shop with antler fragments, however, the knife’s edge remained pristine.
The BodyGuard was no hack in testing its edge against whitetail deer antler. The author littered his shop with antler fragments, however, the knife’s edge remained pristine.

Finally, it was time to get busy on a whitetail deer antler with 30 hard whacks. All that did was send antler chunks all over my shop without even a micro nick on the edge. That demonstrated excellent heat treatment. And the edge still felt razor sharp.

The last step was to retest the edge on paper. The BodyGuard seemed to slice even faster after all its use. Smooth cuts through the 20-pound-bonded with no tear outs. Enough said and cut.

Bottom Line

I just make a minor softening on the end of the handle. Otherwise, the BodyGuard from Aaron Wilburn is in the top 1 percent of the knives I’ve tested. It will handle civilian, hunters and military chores with ease. Hats off to the maker.

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White River Exodus 3: Petite And Sweet Outdoor Maven

Msg Kim Breed (ret.)
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White River Exodus 3: Petite And Sweet Outdoor Maven

White River Exodus 3 is a great little companion blade to add to your gear.

A small bushcrafter/EDC knife, the Exodus 3 by White River Knife & Tool can be very useful. Also known as the Adventurecraft, this lean cutter has a thin, super-sharp blade that does all the chores that a larger knife can’t do easily, from skinning small game to whittling firesticks to removing splinters. It’s a great little companion blade to add to your gear. Does it cut? Let’s see.

White River Knife & Tool Exodus 3 Specs

Company: White River Knife & Tool
Blade length: 3.15”
Blade material: A2 tool steel
Rockwell hardness: 60-61 HRC
Blade @the thickest: 0.130”
Blade finish: Stonewashed
Scales: G-10
Weight: 2 ozs.
Overall length: 7.2”
Sheath: Kydex®
Weight w/sheath: 3.5 ozs.
Knife to know: Leather belt loop and different handle materials available
MSRP: $140

Light Cutting Duty

The author used vertical cuts on the 8-ounce leather as fast as he could. The edge bit swift and deep with a nice crunching sound.
The author used vertical cuts on the 8-ounce leather as fast as he could. The edge bit swift and deep with a nice crunching sound.

Slicing regular lined notebook paper went very fast. The Adventurecraft cut smoothly and aggressively. As I warmed up to its thin shape, the cuts were faster. The flat-ground blade is easy to index in use.

Next up, it sliced single-walled cardboard very quickly with a slight curl to the cut pieces. The blade’s width and full flat grind pulled the curl as the blade went through. The aggressive edge was still making noise as it sliced.

Medium Cutting Duty

For skiving the 8-ounce leather, the blade rendered very thin flaps time and time again.
For skiving the 8-ounce leather, the blade rendered very thin flaps time and time again.

I used vertical cuts as fast as I could on 8-ounce scrap leather. The edge bit swift and deep with a nice crunching sound. I somehow managed to keep all the skin on my fingers in the process. The Adventurecraft is very aggressive cutting leather.

For skiving, the blade rendered extremely thin flaps of leather time and time again. As expected, I surrendered a few thin slices of skin on the leather. The Adventurecraft has a very sharp edge!

Heavy Cutting Duty

Since the handle is as narrow as the blade, the author had to adjust his grip a few times when whittling the firestick. The deeper he cut, the more it wanted to roll in his hand. So he made the curlicues thin and kept on whittling. As he noted, “It’s a handy whittler in any case.”
Since the handle is as narrow as the blade, the author had to adjust his grip a few times when whittling the firestick. The deeper he cut, the more it wanted to roll in his hand. So he made the curlicues thin and kept on whittling. As he noted, “It’s a handy whittler in any case.”

I grabbed a piece of pine from the kindling pile and started to whittle a firestick. I had to adjust my grip a few times as the handle is as narrow as the blade. The deeper I cut the more it wanted to roll in my hand. So I made the curlicues thin and kept on whittling. It’s a handy whittler in any case.

The edge withstood 30 whacks into a deer antler. The little blade took the beating with no chips or rolls, a sign of excellent heat treatment.
The edge withstood 30 whacks into a deer antler. The little blade took the beating with no chips or rolls, a sign of excellent heat treatment.

Half-inch sisal rope was next. The Adventurecraft put out 160 crunching cuts before some sliding ensued. The pressure I used on each cut made it challenging to hang on to the narrow handle. I really had to grip it tightly. It cut aggressively once I got going.

I checked the edge with 30 whacks into a deer antler. The little blade took the beating with no chips or rolls. Yep, excellent heat treatment! Back at the workbench, I grabbed the sheet of notebook paper for a second go-round. The Adventurecraft still sliced smoothly.

Final Cut

I would widen the handle for more leverage in cutting. This is a handy little blade to have around the campsite or in a backpack. It’s great for everyday uses.

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Mike Bradshaw’s Large Hunter Review: Large And In Charge

Msg Kim Breed (ret.)
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Mike Bradshaw’s Large Hunter Review: Large And In Charge

Mike Bradshaw’s Large Hunter smokes the author’s test regimen.

I came across Mike Bradshaw’s knives thanks to a recommendation by a knifemaker friend, R.W. Fred. The knifemaking community always helps other knifemakers—call it the “Brotherhood of the Blade.” After visiting his social media account for a quick look, I messaged Mike and he sent me his Large Hunter to test.

Bradshaw’s Large Hunter Specs

Knife: Large Hunter
Maker: Mike Bradshaw
Blade length: 4.5”
Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless
Rockwell hardness: 63.5 HRC
Blade @the widest: 1.375”
Blade @the thickest: .13”
Blade grind: Hollow on a 12” wheel
Scales: OD green G-carta by GL Hanson
Fittings: Nickel silver
Overall length: 9.125”
Sheath: Black Kydex
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $200

Light Cutting Tasks

The author indicated the Large Hunter produced some of the thinnest slices he has ever made skiving 8-ounce leather.
The author indicated the Large Hunter produced some of the thinnest slices he has ever made skiving 8-ounce leather.

Up first: the paper slice to check the original edge. This is the best way to show slicing in the still-image format of publications. The Large Hunter zipped through drafting paper in a jiffy, making a nice zipping sound on each cut. The edges of the slices were smooth with no tears. I had a hard time keeping my fingers out of the way, nicking one fingernail in the process.

Skiving 8-ounce leather was next on the agenda, and the Large Hunter produced some of the thinnest slices I have ever cut. It crunched the leather very smoothly in even slices that were controllable. The hardest part was moving my fingers out of the way fast enough. In addition to skiving the leather, I also sliced it. Again, the cuts were straight with no tearing.

Medium-Duty Cutting Tasks

Mike Bradshaw’s knife crunched its way to 200 clean cuts in half-inch sisal rope.
Mike Bradshaw’s knife crunched its way to 200 clean cuts in half-inch sisal rope.

It was time to whittle a firestick from seasoned cedar. The Large Hunter came through in flying colors, producing perfect curlicues with clean cuts. It was easy to control cutting depth but the handle was a tad sharp in the choil area. The unwanted sharp spot showed up again when I applied more pressure for deep cuts. A little touch up with sandpaper would fix the problem.

Batonning the Large Hunter through a cedar block was next. Four whacks and the cedar was split. I split it four times then split those four pieces four more times for kindling. The knife batonned great, with good balance between blade and handle. There was no damage to the edge.

Heavy Cutting Tasks

After being whacked into the antler 30 times, the edge emerged (far left) with no chips or rolling—a sign of excellent heat treatment.
After being whacked into the antler 30 times, the edge emerged (far left) with no chips or rolling—a sign of excellent heat treatment.

From there, half-inch sisal rope was on the slicing block. The Large Hunter crunched its way to 200 clean cuts pronto. This knife is extremely sharp and holds an edge perfectly. The handle had a few hot spots that could be corrected fast with a piece of 220-grit sandpaper. If you’re wearing gloves, it’s no problem.

To push the edge further, I gave it 30 hard whacks into a whitetail deer antler. All that did was scatter antler chips all over my workbench—it didn’t do a thing to the edge. Excellent heat treatment, Mike!

As a final gauge of the edge, it was back to the paper slice to see if the edge picked up any damage or dulled at all. Nope, still sharp and smooth cutting. Great job, Mike.

Final Cut

Soften the edges of the handle more to relieve the hot spots. Easy fix. The Large Hunter can tackle a lot more than field processing big game. It has a super sharp edge for slicing and a bite for the larger chores.

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Blades and Bands: Ready To Cut Through Outdoor Chores

Msg Kim Breed (ret.)
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Blades and Bands: Ready To Cut Through Outdoor Chores

Blades and Bands Kukri is a forward-cutting knife design.

In the search for knives to test for “Spec Sheet,” I get referrals. Tracy Price is one. He’s a fairly new knifemaker but does quality work. The Kukri is a knife he made for himself to push his skills, something most makers do.

It’s always good to learn a different way to do things or a new shape. The more skills, the wider variety of knives the maker can build. No matter how pretty they look, form and function must be there. Let’s see how the Kukri functions.

Blades and Bands Kukri Specs

Maker: Tracy Price, Blades and Bands LLC
Blade length: 9”
Blade material: 5160 carbon steel
Blade grind: Flat
Blade @widest: 1 7/8”
Blade finish: Stonewashed
Handle: Stabilized maple burl w/TruStone™ inlay
Extras: Thong hole; spine of “flintknapped” steel
Weight: 20.1 ozs.
Overall length: 13 3/16”
Sheath: Kydex available
MSRP: $299.99

Pros

  • Exceptional Chopping and Whacking Power
  • Excellent Edge Retention
  • Durable Construction

Cons

  • Weight Can Be a Factor in Control

Kukri Light-Duty Cutting

The cardboard slices curled from the edge geometry but resulted in no slowing down of the edge.
The cardboard slices curled from the edge geometry but resulted in no slowing down of the edge.

For a quick edge check, I use the paper slice. The knife cut smoothly and fast. The blade shape pulled the edge through the paper. I had to control the knife’s forward weight, but after a few slices, it was no issue. It’s a sharp blade for sure.

I cut up an old postage box and used a side of it for a single-walled cardboard cut. The knife sliced aggressively and was easy to control. The slices curled from the edge geometry but resulted in no slowing down of the edge.

Kukri Medium-Duty Cutting

The Kukri smoked the leather cut.
The Kukri smoked the leather cut.

Next up: 8-ounce leather for skiving. I shaved a thin slice of leather to remove the squared-off cut during sheath construction to get the leather to flow together. It was fairly easy to skive the leather; I just had to be careful of the excess part of the blade I was not using. In other words, I was both skiving leather and shaving wood off my workbench at the same time.

Cutting leather was one push and the edge hit bottom. The Kukri smoked the leather cut. I moved up and down the blade and couldn’t find a dull spot. The blade belly was the smoothest. Again, I forgot to check the clearance on the first cut and carved into my benchtop. I’m blaming it on the heat.

It was time to whittle some fire sticks. I easily controlled the depth of the curlicues by choking up on the handle. The knife curlicued the cedar very quickly. Yes, the Kukri can be used for finer chores, too.

Kukri Heavy-Duty Cutting

The author easily controlled the depth of the curlicues by choking up on the handle.
The author easily controlled the depth of the curlicues by choking up on the handle.

Chopping was next on the test menu. Finally, I got to use the Kukri and put some whacking into it. Using some red cedar firewood as a base, I started chopping kindling. One whack and I was halfway through the piece. The forward balance worked perfectly for splitting—and man, does it whack! The choil does have a sharp spot but that was easily fixed.

I went back to slicing the original piece of paper to check for dulling and/or chips. The Kukri sliced the now-damp paper very well (97° F and 90 percent humidity make paper kind of soggy). It was simply too hot to stay in the shop—test over!

Final Cut

The Kukri is an excellent field/camp knife. It’s made to chop and whack in the outdoors. However, I soften the edge of the steel at the choil.

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KSW Custom Knives Bushcrafter Review: Upcycled Edge

Msg Kim Breed (ret.)
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KSW Custom Knives Bushcrafter Review: Upcycled Edge

The author baptizes the Bushcrafter BLADE® style.

The Bushcrafter by Kris Waddington of KSW Custom Knives is a great example of what bladesmiths can do with recycled carbon steel. Got a worn-out file? No problem. They can convert it into another useful tool—a knife.

With a hot-enough fire, a smith can manipulate the steel into a wide variety of shapes and sizes. High carbon steels are made into cutting instruments, mild steels into ornamental fittings. It’s a great skill to possess and practice. Kris has the skill.

At the end of testing, the author returned to slicing the copy paper to check for edge snags or chips. The Bushcrafter sliced for the win. There was no edge damage. Heat treatment: spot on.
At the end of testing, the author returned to slicing the copy paper to check for edge snags or chips. The Bushcrafter sliced for the win. There was no edge damage. Heat treatment: spot on.

Enough talk about the cool stuff he can make. Let’s get into how well he performed the conversion.

Light-Duty Cutting

I always slice 20-pound bond copy paper at the start to see how fine the knife’s edge is. The Bushcrafter did not disappoint. The upcycled Nicholson file slid through the paper with ease. It made clean, crisp slices again and again. The knife is very sharp indeed.

The Bushcrafter cruised through the 8-ounce leather very quickly with straight cuts.
The Bushcrafter cruised through the 8-ounce leather very quickly with straight cuts.

From there it was on to severing single-walled cardboard. The Bushcrafter sliced through the medium quickly and aggressively. I could hear every slice. It was easy to control the spacing of the cuts with the larger handle.

Cutting 8-ounce leather to represent the skin of a harvested big game animal was next. The Bushcrafter crunched through it very quickly with straight cuts. Skiving the material was even louder as the knife aggressively sliced it into thin layers. The leather was no challenge whatsoever.

Heavy-Duty Cutting

Cutting sisal rope always tells if the edge will hold up. The Bushcrafter crunched through 200 cuts very quickly and wanted more. There was a small hot spot where the handle meets the blade. A quick hit with 220-grit sandpaper removed the spot. The blade held an edge while slicing and cutting. It was time for a tougher medium.

The Bushcrafter turned out some excellent red-cedar curlicues ready for the fire.
The Bushcrafter turned out some excellent red-cedar curlicues ready for the fire.

For bushcrafting, I chopped a slab of red cedar. The blade buried deeper than expected and cracked the slab. It was comfortable using the knife.

I worked the cedar to make a fire stick. The Bushcrafter turned out some excellent curlicues ready for the fire. Batonning was next in line. The knife averaged 3 1/2 baton hits to split the slab into small kindling. That was some short slab work! To raise the bar, Kris added a ferrocerium rod with a matching handle. The result is a complete outdoor package.

A leather sheath and a ferrocerium rod with a matching handle complete the outdoor package.
A leather sheath and a ferrocerium rod with a matching handle complete the outdoor package.

I returned to slicing the copy paper to test for edge snags or chips. The Bushcrafter sliced for the win. There was no edge damage. Heat treatment is spot on. Great
job, Kris.

Final Cut

I would prefer more of a finger notch and maybe some thumb notches for added control. The Bushcrafter lives up to its name. Made to perform in the woods, it is the total package for your backpack outing.

Bushcrafter Specs
Maker: Kris Waddington
Blade length: 5.25”
Blade steel: A forged Nicholson file
Blade grind: Flat
Scales: Ironwood w/black liner
Hardware: Brass
Overall length: 11”
Extras: Ferrocerium rod w/ironwood handle
Sheath: Leather by @wesleys_american_made_leather
Maker’s price: $325.98 at press-time exchange rate

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Hults Bruk Spika Review: Backwoods Beast

Msg Kim Breed (ret.)
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Hults Bruk Spika Review: Backwoods Beast

Sweden’s Hult Bruks Spika is a great all-purpose camping axe.

Most outdoorsmen use axes and hatchets—axes for chopping trees and splitting firewood, hatchets for lighter work. Axes were normally too big to carry backpacking, so we always settled on using a hatchet and made do. Some of us would cut the handle down of an axe to make it more manageable. Now, with the help of the internet, we’re able to see what other outdoorsmen use. The Spika from Hults Bruk of Sweden is the perfect size to handle most all axe chores and still be manageable to carry.

Spika Specs

The leather edge cover is a strap-on model.
The leather edge cover is a strap-on model.

Pros

  • Perfect Mid-Size for Versatility
  • Razor-Sharp Edge
  • Forged Finger Notch for Control

Cons

  • Uncomfortable Ridge at the Choil
  • Price May Be High for Casual Users

Model: Spika all-purpose axe
Company: Hults Bruk
Edge length: 3”
Head & edge material: Forged carbon steel
Handle: Hickory
Overall weight: 2 lbs. 5/32 oz.
Overall length: 17.5”
Sheath: Leather edge cover w/strap-on thong
Country of origin: Sweden
MSRP: $206

Light-Duty Cutting

The Spika sliced the 20-pound bond paper like a champ.
The Spika sliced the 20-pound bond paper like a champ.

I just had to do a paper slice because the Spika felt wicked sharp. It was challenging to get started but the Spika sliced the 20-pound bond paper like a champ. I choked up on the head and used push cuts. The first slice included a piece of my fingernail. Wow, this is a sharp axe! It was loud while slicing, that is, the sound of paper being cut.

Single-walled cardboard slicing was next. It was easier than the paper to hold and move my fingers out of the way. The Spika was surprisingly easy to control as there is a forged-out finger notch to aid in choking up on the head for finer work. The axe made the cardboard curl up, which makes great fire starter. Again, I used the push cut. I was slowly getting used to this mid-sized axe. I still had to account for the longer handle.

Medium-Duty Cutting

The super sharp edge rendered some very nice, smooth curlicues.
The super sharp edge rendered some very nice, smooth curlicues.

It was time to do some whittling on pine. The Spika was very controllable on the depth of the cut. The super sharp edge rendered some very nice, smooth curlicues. I did notice a sharp ridge on the choil area that needed to be softened if you are using bare hands. A few passes on a Kraton wheel made it easier on my index finger.

Chopping

The Spika split one red cedar slab in one chop. The author kept on splitting till he had a nice pile of kindling.
The Spika split one red cedar slab in one chop. The author kept on splitting till he had a nice pile of kindling.

With camping season kicking off, I had some red cedar slabs that needed splitting. The Spika split one in one chop. I kept on splitting till I had a nice pile of kindling. I did a few more firesticks to add to the pile. This is a handy axe for sure. You just have to find the sweet spot on the handle for splitting and keep your fingers out of the way.

Near the bottom of the woodpile, I saw some seasoned hackberry chunks. It was time to try a little chopping—deep whacks for the Spika. It was accurate on the placement of the chops. (I really wanted to go after a standing tree but the neighbor didn’t go for that idea.)

Sharpness Test

It was time to try a little chopping on some hackberry chunks—deep whacks for the Spika. It was accurate on the placement of the chops.
It was time to try a little chopping on some hackberry chunks—deep whacks for the Spika. It was accurate on the placement of the chops.

I went back to 20-pound bond paper for slicing and the Spika didn’t disappoint, slicing the paper cleanly. That’s very impressive for an axe.

The Spika has a polished cutting edge, a smaller hammer head, and a leather sheath on the base model. Hults Bruk offers belts, an axe holder and sharpening stones. The company carries all things axe related—a very complete lineup.

Final Cut

The Spika needs softening where your finger rides when you choke up on the axe head. The SPIKA is a must have for backwoods camping. Its size makes it easy to carry. It’s top of the line in terms of axes, without a doubt.

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