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.