Hardcore Knives and tools for Wilderness Camping: TFK company Tanev Family Knives BULGARIA Simply Great

Tanev Family Knives (TFK) BULGARIA

PREVIEW!!

Showcasing the TFK T8

Briefly:

TFK T8 is made with Böhler N690 stainless steel (Cryogenically treated by TFK)

and G10 scales and comes with a quality stitched cowhide leather scabbard/sheath.

My immediate reaction to this knife:

Just go and buy one, don't even bother reading any further!

But seriously:

This is my third blog in showcasing Bulgarian quality made knives.

Like I said before, Bulgaria has some outstanding craftsmen, especially when it comes to making quality knives. The brothers, Yancho and Venelin Tanev have taken their childhood passion and creativity as a hobby during their youth to a full blown commercial knife making business (Tanev Family Knives) as adults, for the past 6 years.

Using state of the art computer controlled equipment such as: furnaces/kilns for steel heat treatment and cryogenic tempering methods; to bring the likes of: N690, D2 and AEB-L (plus others) into forming beautiful, yet functional knives for EDC, hunting, and the pursuit of adventure in the outdoors.

Crafted in their Burgas (That's on the coast of Bulgaria for a quick geography lesson) factory, essentially by hand operated equipment, the blanks are LASER cut and all milling processes are conducted in house.

Let's look at the TFK T8 in detail:

This model is made from Böhler's N690 martensitic Cobalt enhanced stainless high speed tool steel. If you know my channel BushCampingTools, you will know I'm a big fan of this stainless steel for use in outdoor products.

If you are coming here for the first time, then N690 is a high carbon stainless tool steel originally developed for high speed/high tool temperature milling applications. N690, made a very good transition into the knife world some years ago and has been adopted (primarily but not exclusively) by numerous European knife manufacturers as a sort of premium knife steel. N690 is made in Austria. Böhler have technical people on the ground in most countries within Europe, including Bulgaria.

The Tanev brothers make it their business to consult with these technical staff in order to achieve the best possible results for heat treatment of this alloy.

Tanev Family Knives (TFK), cryogenically treat the N690 at approximately -84C via solid CO2. Cryogenic treatment has been shown scientifically to aid the conversion of any austenite phase post hardening.

About Quality Control (QC)

ALL knives are Rockwell hardness tested, not just random batch testing. This is a real fastidious approach, not the cheapest way of doing things but certainly thorough quality control.

The stated HRC for this model is 58-60.

The tang is partially skeletonized in order to provide correct balance and feel of the knife.

The tang measures 4mm and is full width for most of the spine, excepting (obviously) the tip region. The geometry is that of high shallow angled sabre/almost full flat. The TFV T8 features an excellent point.

The blade is satin with an excellent surface finish.

How about the edge bevel?

My knife came with a deadly sharp edge and the bevel was placed perfectly on both sides! The TFK T8 Sliced though vegetables and meat with ease and that was after the preparation of a crude cutting board on a fallen Birch species.

About to prepare a makeshift food preparation cutting surface on this leaning tree (it isn't dead, so I need to be careful not to cut into the inner bark!).

Vegetables, no problems!

TFK T8 Slicing meat perfectly.

Food preparation no problems for the TFK T8 in Böhler N690, as it can easily be kept hygienically clean.

The TFK T8 has a very good tip, more than sturdy enough for hiking/camping tasks.

Gathering wild food, no problems at high HRC and excellent heat treatment, no edge chipping after cutting through ground debris and some dirt to obtain wild mushrooms!

Company logo, model type and steel alloy are LASER engraved upon one side of the blade at the hilt.

Stainless and oxidized fixing bolts used throughout.

Anti-slip milled G10 scales, the grip slightly widens towards the back end. (note:There is no lanyard hole on this model).

The sheaths are professionally stitched (last construction) and made using quality cowhide from Turkey and Italy (Both countries are famous for leather production).

The carry is semi-deep, in that the knife fit is very firm but not overly tight and one can easily grasp the 5.5cm of handle extending from the top of the sheath; to remove the knife. I spent most of the day hoping across rocks and the knife stayed put in it's sheath.

The T8 has a very solid feel to it. The shallow angled geometry is good for hunting and food preparation along with the sturdiness of 4mm thick blade for most camp duties along with hiking.

One happy camper LOL! (after slogging a 10kg pack up a mountain side in 30C heat LOL)

The TFK T8 is perfect companion for camping and hiking and hunting.

How about the carry system?

This scabbard features a regular belt carry and or use of a dangler loop (via a chunky steel D ring), also constructed from excellent cow hide leather (as mentioned).