Half Breed Blades MIK-05P Half Breed blades Medium Infantry Knife, NEW and in Böhler's K340 ISODUR - Review

 

Well it only seems fitting that an Australian reviews an Australian company's product and that company's product is none other than Half Breed Blades MIK-05P, their new medium sized Infantry knife being manufactured from that TNS* Böhler K340 ISODUR 8%Cr alloy cold working tool steel. But briefly K340 ISODUR is also utilised for ballistic armour!

Now I have to say that my personal experience with K340 is that it totally rocks as a hard working tool steel capable of cutting numerous objects and still holding an exceptional edge and resistant to chipping, even when encountering bone! So it's no surprise to me that K340 ISODUR will be another notch above K340. The process is an air melt then a remelt for a more "accurate" compositionally alloy.

Ok, so let's get started!

Im my experience when I see a very well presented product, ie the box the thing comes in, it tells me straight away that such a company is producing quality from the start. It's a hefty feeling box of very good construction with 2 magnetic catches securing the lid. It's not flimsy at all and yes, most of the box is recyclable if this is a worry. However, this box is something else. But let's not dwell upon the box too much. One other thing, this knife carries a Life Time Warranty! That speaks highly of the manufacturer's confidence in their products.

A simple sticker on the outside immediately tells you what product was/is inside the box (see below).

Sneak preview!

The MIK-05P comes in a range of colours. I chose OD/BLK, ie Olive Drab and Black!

Ok so inside we have several goodies: velcro moral patches, a certificate of authenticity, stickers and a sheet detailing the knife's specifications. I'm not going to repeat those statistics here, as you can easily take them from their website here. Instead I'll give you some information you can't get from them unless you already have one in your paws right now.

The MIK-05P knife has some interesting features, such as:

There are zero hot spots on the blade or handle. It has been very well finished in all dimensions. Gimping occurs in the right place for one's thumb. (remember, this is NOT a bush crafting knife, where one might expect some part of the spine to have an acute angle- there are zero acute angles here).

 The handle features a deep scalloped set of G10 scales (USA made) which a totally non slip even without wearing gloves.

There is a double fuller and the spine is 6mm thick and there is a Teflon coating over the entire blade to enhance corrosion resistance.

The tip is thick but not too thick and shows good penetrative power. Here (above image) I dropped it from about a metre into a hardwood log. Of course the knife wavered but the tip did not break.

What came in the box? (other than paper work?)

Malice-type clips (see below) for Pals/MOLLE pack mounting, 

already fitted to the very well made** Kydex (USA sourced) scabbard (the over moulding is very good, with excellent knife retention/grab and zero rattle)

and a Tek-Lok style belt clip for those who want this carry option.

I'm a big fan of tanto blades-and drop points (not saying I don't like other styles but these are my favourites) and this tanto really gets my approval. ALL knives with exception of rescue type knives just have to have a good tip and the angle here on this MIK-05P is great. 

Hardcore!

Easily chop

Easily gather wild food (Clitocybe geotropa)

Easily feather

Ok, enough chit chat let's put this thing to the test!

Of scenes to come.....

* Take No Shit

** Only negative (and I can def live with it) there was no drain hole at the base of the scabbard. I'm sure this is just an oversight.

 Out of bounds!

Gutting fish

Ready For Action? let's talk about End USE.

 Ready For Action?

Below are, 2 knives, two different manufacturers and 2 different designers

Zeke Menacho Desinger, Knife: "Little Evil Fighter Small"

Manufactured by Work Tuff Gear.

Weight without scabbard is: about 440gm. Two sided fuller for keeping the blade weight down along with 5mm sheet being used of Böhler K329, a modified 8A alloy of 8%Cr, 0.52% C enabling 58-60 HRC to be achieved.

The second knife is the MIK-05P, ie the Medium Infantry Knife-05P manufactured by Half Breed Blades (designer, not listed).

The weight of the half Breed Blades MIK-05P is 369gm, using as stated above, Böhler's K340 ISODUR (6mm sheet), essentially a more refined Böhler K340 (K340 is a refinement of K110 -D2 on steroids!)

Both knives are of similar length.

Ok, so  what's the difference? Well everything of course!

The Little Evil Fighter is light in the blade but handle heavy, the MIK-05P is heavy in the blade but light in the handle!

The Little Evil Fighter Small (from now on referred to as the LEF), has a pommel that is more akin to a hammer where using it to strike a blow would benefit by out and out smashing blows, the pommel will not damage the user, whereas the MIK-05P has a definite "persuader" type pommel, more akin for close quarters combat/control techniques. Both knives sport a lanyard hole which IMHO is a total necessity for any knife marketed for military usage.

The Half Breed Blades MIK-05P will be much easier to sharpen as it only has 2 perfectly straight edges. The LEF small will require skill in sharpening techniques, however this blade design could also be used for skinning game if needed, whereas the MIK-05P blade design would make things a little difficult but not impossible. This latter knife is definitely marketed towards military personnel and as such is not intended for any sort of bushcraft. That being said, it has some distinct advantages from it's tanto-esque blade design lending it to be very adept a certain tasks, eg gutting fish and other game along with "drilling holes" with it's sturdy tip and stabbing game in the event of no other "tool" available.

It's clear that the LEF can be used for "survival" type applications if one had to live off the land, how about the Medium Infantry knife from half Breed Blades? Sure, it's a balde and skill set that comes with the user will dictate this at the end of the day.

In summary, both knives have specific applications with cross overs. For the MIK-05P these applications may not be immediately obvious if one is not familiar with the virtues of a tanto-esque blade design.

But clearly performing feathering, collecting wild foods etc. are easily performed. Now let's check out and discuss the Half Breed Blades MIK-05P in action in the field for some more arduous tasks!

Work Tuff Gears Little Evil (Small) Combat, Field knife in Böhler's K329

 Work Tuff Gears Little Evil Fighter (Small) Combat, Field knife in Böhler's K329

The Work Tuff Gear Little Evil (Small) Fighter Combat, Field knife in Böhler's K329, is a smaller version of the "Little Evil" designed for combat carry. The blade thickness is not 8mm S600 but 5mm thick Böhler K329, an 8% Cr steel, a modification of A8, which is 1.2360, a 0.52% C steel which can be hardened from 58-60 HRC dependent upon the tempering protocol (approx around  100C-500C).

There is a fuller present on both side of the spine to keep this 6.5" blade nimble.

The Work Tuff Gear Little Evil (Small) Combat, (a Zeke Menacho design) features a recurved blade onto a deep belly and as he describes it a kind of "Syringe" shaped blade tip.

Compared with it's big brother, this smaller version feels much more nimble in the hand and the grip is well-suited to a large hand and feels quite weighty.

Böhler K329 is a sort of "semi stainless steel"

The tip is very good at penetration of tough objects.

Strong coffee, watches and knives LOL! Note that highly polished edge that Victor applies!

There is a concealed lanyard hole. In order to place a cord (in this case some 550 paracord) I used a bent paper clip to retrieve the inserted end.

The pommel is designed so that one can also place the palm of their hand against it without suffering.

OK so stick around for my field tests, coming soon!