Linder BOWIE KNIFE 
MADE IN SOLINGEN GERMANY

Linder Rehwappen Platterl 8" Bowie knife

Expertly heavily stitched leather scabbard.

REHWAPPEN PLATTERL  8" BOWIE KNIFE


SUPERB GERMAN CONSTRUCTION!

Superb finish.

Mirror polished brass guard. 440A martensitic stainless alloy. The brass guard is press fit onto the tang and held in place by the handle scales

Comes with a very nice well-stitched leather scabbard.

I can't keep away from Linder Knives of Germany!
Over a 100 year tradition of knife making.

This knife, the Rehwappen Platterl 8" Bowie knife made in a traditional style, is a full tang beast. Beautifully polished finish on the brass guard and blade, with a very nice satin finish on the blade. The blade thickness is approximately 4.8mm at the spine.

"Rehwappen" is Linder's old Trademark and literally means "Deer Brand". They use this for their Traditional style knives such as the Rehwappen Platterl 8" Bowie knife.

The Rehwappen Platterl 8" Bowie knife features a Plum wood handle. NOW I know Plum wood is extremely hard-that's the stuff I was using to make fish spear heads from! It's like steel. Linder are making a responsible effort to not have to use potentially endangered tropical hardwoods. This "locally" sourced Plum wood is pretty damn good.

Construction also features brass rivets to secure the handle. The Rehwappen Platterl 8" Bowie knife really looks like what a proper knife should look like!

The use of Plum wood (a very hard wood) and brass rivets add a touch of "Real knife" to this classic design.

Now to the knife steel. Linder are using High carbon 440A for this model. Now before any of you start saying, "that's a crap steel". Stop right there and check yourself against marketing hype and reality. 440A has between 0.60% MINIMUM to 0.75% maximum Carbon content, that puts it in the typical "High carbon" range of 0.6-1.0% carbon. 440A can be hardened to between 57-59 dependent upon the "quality/technique, ie science" of the heat treatment. Linder have told me that they harden this 440A blade to HRC 56-HRC 57, using a vacuum furnace and cryogenic tempering techniques. My experience with blades hardened to anywhere from HRC55/56/57 is that they actually in real terms perform just fine and enable easy resharpening in the field. Unskilled hands and low end sharpening devices will work here on such a steel. We are led to believe that our blades must have comparable hardness to metal working files, this is rubbish. Sure HRC's of 60 plus will require less sharpening (methinks there are many out there- who can not sharpen for sh*t and therefore a high HRC knife blade will be fine for  1 or 2 times camping trips per year. Like all those who slag AUS8. I mean I have AUS8 knives which have long stood the test of the Australian hard as steel Eucalyptus wood tests. That's because they have been expertly heat treated. Carl Linder Nachf. e.K. know what they are doing when it comes to making knives. (at least the ones I've had in my hands up until now!). Anyway I digress, let's move on.

How is the Linder Rehwappen Platterl 8" Bowie knife made?

The blanks of the Rehwappen Platterl 8" Bowie knife are LASER cut, machine ground and then hand finished (you can definitely tell the latter here-as I indicated in the title and intro). The Linder Rehwappen Platterl 8" Bowie knife came deadly sharp out of the box.



Who What and Where is such a large blade as the Rehwappen Platterl 8" Bowie knife useful?? If at all??
 Let's start by saying "big knives are best BUT only if one knows how to get the most from their big knife"*, otherwise, it's simply a large chunk of metal best left behind or hanging up in the lounge-room (if the wife permits it- please no comments about sexism here!). Secondly, one can always carry a small knife too. Taking this Linder Rehwappen Platterl 8" Bowie knife out to eat your dinner in a hut might start scaring a few people and wind you up in trouble! 

The Linder Rehwappen Platterl 8" Bowie knife has a Satin finish, this knife is also offered for a limited time in C60 High carbon steel

Like I've said many times, big knives are great for serious wild adventures way way out of mobile phone range, way way, away from any vehicle and civilization. YES, there are still places like this left. I know, I've been there plenty of times. There you can whip out such a knife as the Rehwappen Platterl 8" Bowie knife and no one will bother you and it can be very useful*. Making tools with this knife, cutting up big chunks of meat with it etc etc.

440A has good corrosion resistance so coastal camping shouldn't be a problem. Such a blade design lends itself well to gutting and processing fish. See my trusty (and sometimes rusty LOL) Ontario Spec Plus clip point.

I really like the wood handle as it feels and looks like a "real knife" Check out the movie The Most Dangerous Game" if you want to see an early model bird beak Bowie knife, which featured in all the publicity stills movie.

BUT wait let me really test this out and not rely upon what I say here:
I'll be cutting the usual stuff like seasoned hardwoods, ropes both synthetic and natural, both of which can easily blunt a soft edge. Hard vines, testing the temper of the tip. WHY because such a large knife should be able to handle the pace of the wilds.

Linder Rehwappen Platterl 8" Bowie knife, stick around and i'll show you what I get up to with this knife.

Stay tuned to BushCampingTools YouTube Channel for more on this newly acquired blade.

Big Knives

What's a big knife? And what good, if any is a big knife useful for?

An example of  big knife, the Extrema Ratio AMF at 8.25 inches from the hilt to the tip. This is the biggest knife ("Western" designed-from Italy) I currently own, excluding my: Goloks, machetes, parangs and my Kukri. (the fruit in this image are the "nut"s/seed cases of an edible species of Pandanus palm also known as the Screw Pine. Pandanus tectorius found growing across Micronesia and including parts of Australia from inland regions to rugged coast lines) 

Serious adventure locations such as Komodo island (photo by author)

I think big knives are great if you are really going on an adventure* into serious territory without a vehicle.  Let me first say that big knives are not what I'd take on a simple camping trip or day hike where I'm going to be amongst many other campers or encounter campers/hikers.  This is only because of the stupid media revving everyone up about knife crime etc and unfortunately many have become paranoid and frightened when they see people with knives of any type these days. Using big knives in cultures where big knives are routinely used or carried, is a safe bet as no one will even bat an eyelid but the reverse is true outside of these cultures.

The right tool for the job, a machete is the best option or large parang for cutting such objects, ie bunches of bananas from the tree, where one needs maximum reach.

A Golok being used to prepare an evening meal. The Golok being also useful in clearing the jungle vegetable garden.

The above 2 images of knives, do not (IMHO) convey an image of weapons but rather tools used in everyday life for many. 

*What to I mean by "Adventure"? I mean remote, where you have to find, or know where water is, and I don't mean a vending machine or corner shop. I mean a spring, or splitting coconuts on a daily basis. I mean on rugged coastlines, drinking water from ephemeral seeps. I mean where you will be away from civilization for over 5 days. I mean no mobile phone signal. A big knife can: bust up drift wood found on the beach, fillet and gut big fish, cut small branches to make crab spears and fish spears, cut down a palm trees for food,  hack open roots for water, all the crazy stuff we should know about etc. etc.. Where the hell am I getting this information from??? Well from personal experience of course, trekking remotely (that means not on any Lonely Planet guide or rough guide itinerary). You have to have a good collapsible fishing rod and a quality fishing reel and lures. Take a reliable folder or multi-tool with you. Small knives are useless for processing fish- sure you can do it but not without some un-needed stress. Small knives will take you forever to hack apart drift wood or pallets  or any other useful junk that has washed up on some remote beach.
The usefulness of a big knife depends totally upon your location and of course skill with that particular knife. Big knives can suck on skinning game (unless you like using your hands-which I think is the best technique for small to medium sized game-JMHO).

If you have a vehicle there is no need to take a big knife as you can easily carry an axe or a chainsaw! You can live as luxuriously as one does in their own home. Carrying a big knife on an adventure is only reasonable if you really are going to have a use for one. NOT because you think you might have one and DEFINITELY not because you think it could save your life. Nope, what will save your life is what's inside your skull. Let me state again real survival situations generally do not involve the use of knives at all. Let me put this in perspective with the recent mudslides in California where people have had to survive buried under the mud and debris of houses. What kept them alive was their will to survive, not some knife strapped to their side.  

Strong, tough useful and comfortable, some of the features which must be inherent in any knife which is supposed to be a "Survival knife". "Survival knife" definition: A knife which could survive intact in a desperate situation even if the owner doesn't. Well of course that could mean any knife LOL as the last time I looked I wasn't made up of  steel and polymers and composite materials! Just joking of course!

Sometimes a machete maybe just too big or unnecessary to carry (if there is relatively easy going through the jungle and or semi-cleared or negotiable paths to follow, then a big knife will do the job or a small parang, instead of a big machete. Personal choice

A big knife to be useful depends upon it's shape, ie the geometry of the blade and where it would be used and what the user has good experience with. There is no such thing as a universally useful knife. Just like there is no one surfboard for all wave conditions. Some knives can be "big" in other dimensions. That is they don't have to be long to be "big" but could be very thick or broad or deep etc. Too thick and the knife won't even be effective at cutting anything but paper. Try to prepare vegetables with a thick bladed knife-above non full flat grind or steep 6mm grind. What do I mean by thick bladed knives? Knives with steep blade angles, that are essentially wedges! You will cut with these but try cutting through something as apposed to simply cutting without penetration and lots of force!



More to come!!

Extrema Ratio T4000C Just what do I think now?

Extrema Ratio T4000C Just what do I think now?

Splitting wood

Slicing meat

Corrosion resistance working near the sea/coast

Ok I've been using the Extrema Ration T4000C for several years now, so what do I think about this knife?

Comfortable for a small knife. Design cuts very well and pierces very well. No mistaking which way you are holding it (eg if you are groping around for it  in the pitch darkness). Easy to keep sharp due to a hand ground edge. Hot or cold weather gloves not necessary due to FORPRENE handle/grip. Small coin or keys can be used to readily remove handle to clean in the field, no fancy tools required. (of course you still can use an Allen wrench if you happen to have one.
The Extrema Ratio T4000C is a perfect day hike/overnighter camp knife capable of a whole lot more. 
Military apps, it's obvious: Japanese style Tanto blade perfect for penetration and slicing. Back end like all Extrema Ratio Fixed blades; can be used as a "control"/self defence device.
Built from a 6mm thick sheet of N690 Alloy stainless, synonymous with Austrian quality (Raw materials) and Italian excellence in design. The sheath is fully Molle compatible but nothing stops you securing it to regular day pack or waist belt. You could also carry a small Molle style pouch on this scabbard too. Being a small compact knife it is unobtrusive in public view. and doesn't say: "Look out! he's got a knife!"*

Drain hole, hard plastic inserts, quality stitching throughout

Push cuts are a breeze as the tip is not chisel thickness.

Get the Extrema Ratio Fulcrum series if you want this feature in the tip.


* Personal opinion

Linder Solingen

ATS 34 Super Edge 2 Easy Track Hunting and General Camp knife

ATS 34 Easy Track Super Edge 2 Hunting and camping knife from Linder Solingen Germany.

Linder of Solingen Germany, CNC mill these blanks of Japanese Hitachi ATS 34 used in their Super Edge models then heat treat them to achieve a final HRC of 60, via vacuum processing and cryogenic soaking at -85C. This treatment allows for such high HRC and still retain blade flexibility. 
Each knife is individually serial numbered. This sort of thing is important to me. Why? because it says something about quality control, being able to track one's products and keep tabs on production quality.

Knives are individually serial numbered. The ATS 34 Super Edge EASY TRACK Hunting knife made by Carl Linder Nachf. e.K. Germany. Up until this model shipped, 8007 knives of this model have been sold!! The knife features a full flat grind and at 4mm thickness or 0.2 inches, provides great cutting power when slicing though objects.

The kraton used for the grip has a Shore hardness of 85, which achieves a tough and tactile grip without being soft. Also there was a lot of serious research that went into designing a very ergonomic grip shape. The kraton grip profile resists a twisting motion, at the same time provides a very tactile feeling. comfortable with no hot spots, good in all weather and with either dry or slimy hands. There is a palm swell and some texturing akin to knurling moulded into the Kraton.

The fluorescent Orange Kraton grip is extremely comfortable! The spine features shallow but still very grippy gimping. The blade design is that of a hunting knife, with a large radius belly but not so large as to be only used as a skinner. 

Now this is my second Linder knife (I'm sure there will be more LOL). I can't keep away from Linder knives (now I recently discovered them!) as they are great value for money, getting a German made 4/5mm ATS 34 steel fixed blade/s hunting knife/knives for well under 200 Euro's, you've got to be kidding!

Just to put you in the picture

For many many years my trusty camping knife was also my trusty hunting knife. I wanted a knife which could cut off the wet outer bark and or wood from damp timber and use this to start a fire and the same knife to skin and then butcher my game we caught. I also used that hunting knife to go fishing with. It was a German made knife but not from Linder. Now this ATS 34 Super Edge 2 with a nice bright orange Kraton grip really caught my eye. I know we are NOT meant to put the knife down but immediately back into the scabbard. Yes, soldiers are trained to do this but this doesn't mean it happens all the time if you don't have that kind of discipline/training and also if the blade is covered in: fish guts or other animal guts and blood, you'll want to wash and clean it before re-holstering it. That can mean putting it down on the ground/log/rock etc "just for a few seconds" (LOL!!) and of course returning to spend the next 30 minutes looking and cursing as to where you had left it! NOW if your handle is bright orange, you will be far less likely to loose your knife if you have done any one of the above mentioned no no's!

No chance of misplacing your knife!

The knife stands out with high contrast against a green background!

The Super Edge 2 Easy Track against a dark background, easily seen! The Kraton handle is all weather. A stainless steel rivet helps secure the Kraton.

Same drill as before, all the Super Edge series feature this tang design (14mm wide tang):

Example tang (shown here is the ATS 34 Super Edge 5 Bushcraft) of the Super Edge Series of knives. A stainless steel rivet helps to further secure the Kraton to the tang.(Image provided courtesy of Carl Linder Nachf.e. K. Germany).

This knife with it's bright luminous/fluorescent orange grip isn't going to misplaced easily. In low light the knife is easy to find (you're in a hurry to leave in the evening etc). 

Now I don't know of anyone else who is utilizing this feature of putting a bright handle onto a hunting knife (possible exceptions Mora). Some say this is a gimmick. Well let me tell you it couldn't be further from a gimmick. Put down your knife with its camouflage  coloured  handle on the ground in Australia, then you stand a good chance of loosing it amongst the leaf litter! So for hunting applications this makes a lot of sense to me. 

Why use a Hunting knife for camping?

So what's the benefit of using a "hunting style" knife also for camping? Well as blade designs go, they are generally easy on the wrists and that means less fatigue during heavy use. They are good to prepare food with too in my experience and have a good enough point to also be used to gut fish. As an added plus in today's society they also appear "less threatening" in overall shape. In fact, on that note there are countries whose governments are busy banning any edged tools that resemble your average weapon from a "Zombie movie", stupid yes, I know, since there are a plethora of advertisements all over buildings and buses etc showcasing the latest movies or TV series about killing the "Undead" with edged weapons. So why ban knives when there there are still movies abounding showcasing such weapons? Don't get me wrong I love a good Zombie movie and totally disagree with that kind of knee jerk attitude.

Size comparison between the Super Edge 2 (above) and the Super Edge 5 below (recently reviewed by BushCampingTools).

Ok back to the ATS 34 Super Edge 2. So if you haven't figured it out now the Hunting style blade generally makes a damn good choice for a hiking/camping knife, with added bonus of being able to multitask. Whilst my trusty Ontario Spec Plus has done it's tour of duty, it couldn't handle it on just one hunting trip when i forgot my hunting knife! Clip points are just useless in that area (ok fish are fine).

0.2" or 4mm thick spine, palm swell, tapering grip, the Linder Easy Track Super Edge in ATS 34 is a sturdy hunting knife.

ATS 34 performs very well since you can (and Linder does) harden the ATS 34 to HRC 60 without a brittle edge. As mentioned above Linder are using -85C degree cryogenic treatment on this alloy for the best possible final microstructure.

Linder Super Edge 2 Easy Track, perfect size for hunting (small to medium game) and camp duties

A no nonsense hard high denier ballistic Nylon covered nylon scabbard with a retaining spring (Plastic) keeps a secure and safe housing of the Linder ATS 34 Super Edge 2 Easy Track knife . This scabbard can be easily washed clean too.

Ok so these are my overall first impressions, which I have to say are also based upon my previous experience with Linder's Super Edge 5 also in ATS 34, of which I have just field tested. I'll be taking this Super Edge 2 with Easy Track coloured grip also out into the field and give it the works, so stick around for my review on BushCampingTools.

A warranty of 2 years is given.

LINDER SOLINGEN
Carl Linder Nachf. e.K.
ATS-34 SUPER EDGE 5 BUSHCRAFT Knife

Linder Solingen ATS-34 Super Edge 5 pictured with wild St George Mushrooms

Linder Solingen or Linder knives of Germany have just released a brand new model. The ATS-34 SUPER EDGE 5 BushCraft knife!

Made in Solingen Germany by Carl Linder Nachf.e.K.**, the "ATS-34 SUPER EDGE 5" is as the name suggests made with the renowned Hitachi ATS-34 stainless steel. 
The ATS-34 SUPER EDGE 5 BUSHCRAFT Knife sports a 5 inch long blade and is hardened to HRC 60 (HRC value etched into the blade), 5mm thick and individually serial numbered (mine was 00033). My ATS-Super Edge Bushcraft knife came deadly razor sharp out of the box with some after care instructions in English and German.

The ATS-34 SUPER EDGE 5 BUSHCRAFT Knives are individually serial numbered (this knife 00033).

The top of the spine is acute enough to strike a fire steel against and I have the BushCraft leather sheath (two versions, plain simple nylon sheath and this XLNT leather version) which can be carried either vertically or horizontally. The sheath also has a loop of leather for a small fire steel (sold separately- but I have one).

Well-stitched sturdy leather sheather with reinforcing rivets (backside view)

The ATS-34 SUPER EDGE 5 BUSHCRAFT Knife is securely held with a wide easily grabbed closure strap (frontside).

Double stitched and riveted sheath detail showing company logo Linder.

The blade finish of The ATS-34 SUPER EDGE 5 BUSHCRAFT Knife was excellent and looks like some sort of surgical instrument. Not mirror but a high polished surface finish. No surprise there, as this knife is Made in GERMANY. 

The ATS-34 SUPER EDGE 5 BUSHCRAFT Knife

The Linder ATS-34 Super Edge Bushcraft knife perfectly at home around the campsite

What's this bushcraft thing?
Well all the stuff you could be doing in the bush of course, like: fishing, hunting, camping (which means eating of course) and making things to help out during the course of one's adventures.

For a knife designed and marketed under the "BushCraft" label, the ATS-34 Super Edge 5 Bushcraft Knife has a short steep bevel. I know from experience this type of edge on ATS-34 works well. The high flat Sabre grind is perfect for food prepping and that point will easily work on gutting fish and game.

For those of you who are too young to remember what ATS-34 is, or those who have never heard of this amazing alloy then please read on!

Hitachi Metals in Japan developed this high carbon, high chromium high, Molybdenum stainless alloy some years back. "Many say" (like who are these "many"?) that there are better steels around today than ATS-34. I totally disagree based upon long term field usage of this alloy. let's have a brief look at ATS-34

Typical analysis* is as follows:

Carbon: >1%
Chromium: approx14%
Molybdenum: approx 4%

I'm going to say right now I have over 18 years experience with ATS-34 as a knife steel. That's 18 years of field and domestic usage of a blade 18 years old which has never failed me even during abusive treatment. That's my Strider (original Paul Boss heat treated) MFS, which was made with ATS-34. In fact one of the best custom knife makers in the USA exclusively makes his knives from ATS-34.

LINDER in Solingen Germany is also making their other "SUPER EDGE" models and high end knives with this  alloy.
Why is it a good knife steel? Well, it really holds an edge and is very tough. For example, I once (heavy abuse) used my Strider MFS to split a dead (well seasoned) oak log with a trunk diameter of 9 inches and a length of about 5ft! of course this took some doing but it worked and the knife untouched! I've used it to remove stubborn bushings! (which was total abuse!). 

If the edge is kept sharp then The ATS-34 SUPER EDGE 5 BUSHCRAFT Knife it cuts very well and retains the edge for a long time. Linder in Solingen are also saying the same, only needs "occasional" sharpening or touching up of the edge. Now the downside is, and I'll be honest here, it you were to let it go totally blunt then yes being of such high Rockwell (HRC60) then of course it might take some time to put an edge back. ATS-34 is a hard use knife alloy without a doubt in my mind.
The ATS-34 SUPER EDGE 5 BUSHCRAFT Knife has been well-designed, simple. Foolproof one piece Kraton over moulded Kraton grip. The ATS-34 SUPER EDGE 5 BUSHCRAFT Knife tang extends all the way into the grip

 The tang of the ATS-34 Super Edge 5 Bushcraft knife, courtesy of Carl Linder Nachf. Germany.

As you can see there are 3 cutaways to enable the Kraton to be securely fixed to the tang. The spine is 5mm thick. The butt end does not extend through the Kraton. 

The ATS-34 SUPER EDGE 5 BUSHCRAFT Knife is not too heavy not too light and well balanced carry all day and not notice it.

Japanese ATS-34 is NOT DEAD! It was a great knife steel alloy years ago and still is!

Do not believe the hype!

ATS-34 isn't super duper resistant to saltwater but none the less it is a "proper stainless steel knife alloy".

The ATS-34 SUPER EDGE 5 BUSHCRAFT Knife isHeat treated to HRC60!

Linder are also employing a sub zero stage in the heat treatment for optimal microstructure.

High flat grind/sabre. No choil present to enable easy powerful carving techniques to be employed and more importantly maximises the edge/cutting  surface.

A practical blade design for bushcraft tasks, The ATS-34 SUPER EDGE 5 BUSHCRAFT Knife has a good penetrating point and simple blade profile for non complicated field sharpening.

Having a one piece Kraton grip means there is nothing to break or come undone, no exposed tang to freeze fingers in sub zero temperatures. The handle absorbs vibrational shocks. The serviceable life of Kraton exposed to the elements is over 20 years (I know this from my Ontario Spec Plus knife- which has been exposed to intense UV for many years under the Australian sun!). This Kraton grip is exactly that, grippy and somewhat a little tacky to the touch.

Very comfortable Kraton grip.

There is a lanyard hole, so you don't loose the knife down a hole.

Carl Linder Nachf. e.K ATS-34 Super Edge 5 Bushcraft knife

** Carl Linder Nachf.e.K. is a Germany knife making company with a rich history of over 100 years. You can ready more about this present day company here.



*Comparable (but not the same) steels you may already know:

RWL-34
CPM-154
14-4CrMo
CM-154


The Carl Linder Nachf.e.K. ATS-34 Super Edge 5 Bushcraft knife will continue to be under intense field use in the coming days, so stick around for the video field review on BushCampingTools.