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Pros: Weight
Cons: Sheath/Scabbard, Blade Sharpness
Mediocre at Best
I have been excited about trying Svord knives since I heard of them, about ten years ago, in James Ayres' book "The Tactical Knife." I tried a Peasant folder long ago, and I hated it. It doesn't cut anything efficiently. But this review is about the Kiwi General Outdoors knife.I had always heard that the Svord fixed blade knives performed better than the folders. So far, that seems to be the case, but at this price point, and given the company's reputation, I'd say the Outdoors knife is still a pretty poor product.The knife arrived with a decent cutting edge at least. The other Svord knife that arrived with it was not so good, and needed a touch-up right out of the box. This Outdoor knife passed my most typical cutting test, cutting a piece of plastic trimmer line for a yard trimmer. This plastic is tough, and I've found that a knife that cuts the line well will cut about anything well. The outdoor knife BARELY passes the test, whereas a Mora, Opinel, or Fallkniven passes the test very easily.The handle is mediocre in terms of comfort. It has so-so ergonomics, even for my huge hands. For average-size hands, it might not be comfortable at all. The plastic handle does seem reasonably tough, I suppose. This knife came without a lanyard, but that is easily added. It feels like a cheap kitchen knife.The sheath is. . . . not for me. Maybe some other people would like it. It's a cheap-looking and -feeling synthetic material, made to resemble leather. For all I know, it's very durable. It does hold the knife securely. The knife sits so low in the sheath that drawing it is a challenge.The blade, when it arrived, was in its sheath, which is an unusual way to store and ship knives. This one, unlike the other, was NOT coated in gooey grease when it arrived.The blade looks thicker than advertised. I didn't measure it, but I'd guess the spine at 1/8" or .125 inches or about three to four millimeters. I was expecting a blade closer to .10 inches. I do like the thickness. It's thicker than most Moras, but not so thick that it gives up a great deal of cutting efficiency.I have spent years WANTING to like these knives, but it comes down to how the knife cuts. This one won't compare to a $10 Mora in cutting ability. I can't see recommending this knife to anyone. You're far better-off with any Mora model, and almost all of them cost less than this Svord knife.
