Friday, 21 April 2023

G5 Montec Hunting heads

 G5 Montec Hunting Heads

Many moons ago I was hunting with BEAR

twin bladed razor heads (glue on!); but they were a very well constructed one piece (as one piece as they could be back then) broad head of excellent blade design.

 Later I moved on to (because of shear cost of the things having to be imported from the USA) to a no cut out one piece (A one piece blade spot welded to a section to take a shaft end) (but made in Australia) broad head made from blued "clock spring" steel. They didn't look as good but they sure as hell worked great, although they were difficult to sharpen in the field.

 Then later to a 3 bladed head made by a company (???)  calling them a "Bodkin" but this was just a generic name for a cheaper looking version (but still very solid) version of the below arrow heads from G5, ie the G5 Montec.


The G5 Montec is a one piece (well they say this but it isn't really a total one piece as one can see a partial seam in the main body of the head but as far as being defined as a one piece in terms of hunting heads, then it is one piece, ie no screw together blades, no press fit blades.


On this model they do not state if stainless steel or not, the full non cutaway version do state that they are using 420 stainless steel. These heads are made by a process known as MIM (Metal Injection Molding). This is basically a technology which allows complex shapes to be made out of metal. The required metal alloys are incorporated into polymers in order to form a feed stock. This material is then treated as if it were an injection molding raw material,  obviously allowing for processes to melt the metals back into one piece.

Pretty low profile, and probably less wind drag due to the cut away metal. They say they have been tested for spin. Their construction tells me from experience with similar heads tells me that they should be tough and robust.

As the box says, they are indeed extremely sharp, so sharp indeed you could almost get cut holding them in their plastic cover!

They are also available in "Pink" for girls!

and so they should be because many woman like this marketing touch and why not? Despite what the woke media would have us believe, we are indeed XY and XX, fact! So pink it is for the women!

These heads are available in 85 grain, 100 grain 125 grain and special crossbow versions. I'm using 100 grain heads (Just steel colored for blokes LOL) on my 400 grain shafts.
Image courtesy of G5 (sorry guys I did not ask for permission but I hope you don't mind since I'm promoting your products!)

The benefits of the 3 bladed head design such as these, is that they can be sharpened by just about any one, very easily by simply providing a sharpening stone, preferably a silicon carbide on for rapid edge acquisition in the field, by placing two of the edges against a flat stone, and off you go! No need to sharpen them like a knife fr example with two edged heads.



BCT






Monday, 17 April 2023

Extrema ratio RAOII Expeditions Available now

 


Get a glimpse of it here in action

(PS these are obviously not pictures from BCT)




So to cut the chase what's different between the RAOII Expeditions and the original RAOII?


Different anodising, no Mil Spec coating on scales or blade, blade stone washed from (I believe raw heat treat state- but i could be wrong) included quality fire steel (the diamond plate was part of the original RAOII anyway. A carry system which is matching desert. 



Quality stitched carry pouch, included diamond plate sharpener and fire steel. A note on these fire steels they are including here: they work very very well and one need not scrape the daylights out of them to get some very decent sparks.


Here's what they (Extrema Ratio)say:




Expedition Series, the new range of tools dedicated to professional explorers, welcomes a folding knife model, RAO II Expeditions.

 

The Expedition Series knives offer the same reliability and high quality as any other Extrema Ratio tactical tool provided to the military special forces and law enforcement. Rao II Expeditions is a tool that, thanks to its structure and despite its compactness, guarantees the same functionality and characteristics of a much bigger and more robust product.

 

It has a desert-coloured handle and sheath as any other model of the Expedition Series. It has a BÖHLER N690 (58HRC) blade steel with MIL-C-13924 burnishing and a superficial stone washed finishing (DARK STONE finishing). Rao II Expeditions has ergonomic handle scales with rounded upper angles, and a drop point blade.

 

It is inspired by the RAO model with tanto blade, which has been employed by the Italian 185° Rgt. Ricognizione e Acquisizione Obiettivi “FOLGORE” (185° RAO). The new Expedition Series folding knife can be easily used for heavy duties also thanks to its extremely sturdy locking mechanism, which is supported by a safety that turns it into a proper fixed blade.

 

There is a threaded steel pin to be hand-screwed through two holes by the guard section of the massive Anticorodal aluminium handle; this was added to guarantee 100% resistance of the locking mechanism due to the heavy use and the violence of the blows caused by the mass of the tool. Maximum safety is guaranteed for the user by screwing the pin in this seat.

 

All models in the Expeditions Series are equipped with desert-coloured sheaths and, among its various tools, with a fire steel for lighting fires. RAO II Expeditions is no exception and comes with a desert Cordura sheath which is an essential component of the carry system.

 

This particular sheath allows to carry the knife with the blade closed by placing it in the specific front pocket, or with the blade open by inserting it in the dedicated compartment which has a safety system consisting of a strap with double clips.

 

In addition to the fire steel there is also a diamond sharpener. The MOLLE fixing system of the sheath allows it to be carried on tactical vests and generic belts.




I'm hoping to give it a bash in the bush for sure and see if it can hack my pace.




BCT

 

Sunday, 9 April 2023

TFK T3 N690 From Tanev Family Knives

 


TFK T3 N690 From Tanev Family Knives


Made with Böhler's N690 and G10, with full grain cowhide scabbard.



Specs at a glance:

4mm thick steel, G10 scales, some milling present to improve grip in wet hands,  drop point 9cm blade/3.5"blade, (just right for weekend hunting trips), full flat grind.

Full leather scabbard, also comes with a dangler loop (leather, attached via a circular ring-like carabiner-not shown).

Feels robust with a 4mm thick spine, not too heavy, easy to work on very hard woods (walnut).



HRC Rockwell indent (to the right of pencil tip) on the tang. (58-60). The tang is partially milled out for correct balance.



The perfect size for day hikes and picnics too where one wants the convenient size of a folder's blade but with the sturdiness of a fixed blade.

Made in Bulgaria

See video field review on @BushCampingTools